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CORiRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




In a Valley Mountain-girdled. 



Love and the Light 

An Idyl of the Westland 



Night — then morn-burst! Angel Sunrise, 
Archer from the gates of Orient, 
Crimson-golden arrows speeding 
Through the gloom and '^thwart the grayness, 
Crowning every crest with splendor, 
Flooding every glen with glory. 
* * * 

And the happy Earth seemed Heaven 
When at last the truth was told him,. 
When he knew she lived and loved him. 
When, a gift from God, he claimed her 
That great day the world was gladdened 
By a Light that shineth alway. 



By 

Orson Ferguson Whitney 






Ni\^^^ 



Copyright, 1918, 

Joseph F. Smith, Trustee-in-Trust, 

Salt Lake City, Utah 



JUN 24 I&J8 . ^ 

©C1.A49788B 



^ FOREWORD 

- A love story, into which the religious ex- 

2L perience of both hero and heroine is inter- 
woven — ^such is "Love and the Light; an 
Idyl of the Westland." Begun during Christ- 
mastide of 1910, work upon it has been of a 
•f desultory character, owing to routine duties 

^ demanding the author's first and continuous 

attention. 

This poem has a definite purpose. To com- 
bat the influence of the so-called "Higher 
Criticism," which is indoctrinating with hurt- 
ful effect the minds and hearts of many of 
the youth — that is its paramount aim. The 
story form is chosen to make the theme more 
attractive and insure wider perusal, especially 
on the part of young people. The reader, 
while absorbing the romance, wjill partake 
necessarily of the instruction. 

The Idyl is annotated with a view to its 
introduction and use as a text book in the 
schools. That all classes will find in it enter- 
tainment and food for reflection, is the fer- 
vent hope of the author. 



SYNOPSIS 

The heroine is a Western girl, born and 
reared in the region of the Rocky Moun- 
tains, beautiful and accomplished, but tinged 
with atheism, imbibed at the college where 
she completed her education. The hero is 
a New Englander, a Harvard graduate, who, 
from an independent attitude toward creeds 
and churches, is won to the religion of Jesus 
Christ, and endeavors to convert the lady of 
his love. His vocation, like hers, is that of 
teacher. The New England youth and the 
fictitious narrator of the story were college 
chums, and it is through the latter that the 
former, while on a visit to the West, becomes 
acquainted with the young woman whom he 
recognizes as his fate. The mutual relations 
of the pair, with the pros and cons of the great 
problem dividing them — the problem of athe- 
ism versus religion — form the backbone of the 
narrative. 



CONTENTS 

Part One — -Maid and Lover 1 

Part Two— Meeting 12 

Part Three— Parting 29 

Part Four — Return 43 

Part Five — Disillusion 59 

Part Six — Despair 84 

Part Seven — Illumination 93 

Notes 123 

These notes are designed especially for students, but 
the general reader may also find them helpful. For the 
information of those imfamiliar with text-book annota- 
tions, it need only be said that the numeral attached 
to the word or phrase requiring explanation is the 
number of the note explaining it. Each note has a like 
reference to the page on which the word or phrase may 
be foimd. 



J • 




LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

An Idyl of the Westland 



MAID AND LOVER 

IN A VALLEY mountain-girdled, 
'Mid the heave on heave of summits, 
Lifting to the sky like billows 
Whitened with the foam of ages; 
In a village in that valley 
Dwelt a Maiden fair as morning. 
Sweeter than the breath of evening. 



2 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Autumn-blown from piney woodlands, 
Kissing clover fields and meadows, 
Sighing through the scented branches 
Of rare orchards, apple-laden. 

There this dainty flower, unfolding. 
Budding into fairest being. 
Blossoming in grace and beauty, 
Glorified the village garden. 

There I knew her, there I loved her. 
Loved her — but of that no matter. 
Haply 'twas as friend or brother. 

Not alone her charm of person, 

Loveliness of form and feature ; 

Mental gifts and moral graces. 

Jewels of the mind and spirit. 

Fit to shine in haunts of sages. 

Or in palaces of princes — 

These were hers, 'mid other treasures. 

Humble though the home surroundings — 
Cottage-nest with neat environs — 
Robed in royalty of learning. 
Crowned with living inspiration, 
Queen she ruled with potent sceptre, 
Pen of swift and subtle power. 
O'er the empire of expression. 
O'er the wider realm, suggestion. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 

Tongue of truthfulness and candor, 
Harplike voice of tuneful cadence, 
When it willed to fling its music, 
Soft as stars their midnight lustre, 
O'er the solitudes of silence . 

Gentle speech and modest manner. 
Nature's stamp of true refinement. 
Eloquent of birth and breeding. 

Foster-child was she, an orphan. 

Reared from infancy by strangers; 

Blossom of a tree patrician. 

Rooted in a soil plebeian. 

Rumored 'twas that her clear life stream 

At some early fount was noble. 

Do I paint in ideal colors? 

Seems my praise exaggeration? 

Would I claim for her perfection? 

Nay, for she was human, mortal. 

Faults there were, but love o'erlooked them, 

Blind, or seeing in her failings 

Deeper warrant for devotion. 

Love and charity are twin-bom. 

Twain of name, though one in nature. 

Statuesque of mien and manner. 
Classic mould, with college training; 
Model of the skilled preceptor. 



4 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Wedded to her high vocation, 
Dearly loved and fondly cared for, 
First and last in her affections. 
All else, in her estimation. 
Pleasures, duties or possessions, 
Were but fragments of life's feasting. 
Obligation's second sitting. 
Crumbs from education's table. 

Chaste and fair as cold Hj^atia,^ 
Whom, in sooth, she much resembled; 
Chilled with ices intellectual. 
Loved she books, but loved no lover. 

Culture — this was her religion; 
If aught else, then criticism. 
Founded on the claims of science. 
Or what passed for such with many. 
Her's the bark of doubt, slow drifting, 
Oarless, rudderless and aimless, 
Down the tide of skepticism. 

Such at least the reputation. 
Tossed on tongues of village gossip. 
Torn by hoof and horn bucolic; 
Multiplying village gossip. 
Magnifying rural rumor, 
Making much of every little. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 

From the green hills of New England, 
To the white-crowned Rocky Mountcdns, 
Land of dreamful desolation, 
Land of relic and of ruin, 
Silent, solemn, unresponsive 
Realm of mystery and marvel. 
Realm of whispered half-revealings; 
To this land of peak and prairie. 
Burning waste and frozen summit. 
Bowl-like land of bitter waters. 
Barren vales and blooming gardens. 
Journeyed forth a stalwart scion 
Of the Plymouth-landing Pilgrims.^ 

Mental toiler, mystic dreamer. 

Worn with stress of midnight study, 

Seeking restful recreation 

In the romance of adventure 

'Mid the weird scenes of the Westland.* 

Friend of mine at classic Cambridge, 
College chum at Mater Harvard,* 
Gifted o'er his gifted fellows. 
Leader, idol of his classmates. 
Graduating high in honor. 
Laurel-crowned with admiration 
And with envious detraction — 
Merit's two-fold recognition. 

Youthful he, and yet no stripling; 
Student, but no shriveled bookworm ; 



6 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Robust, towering, strong and stately, 
In all manly sports excelling. 
Poet, orator and athlete. 
Loving art, adoring nature, 
Deep in philosophic thinking, 
Wise in ancient lore and modem. 

Heedful of the claims of science, 
Yet no scoffer at religion; 
Honoring the Christ's example. 
Altruistic paths pursuing , 
Creeds and churches all ignoring, 
Seeing their defects, yet finding 
In these motes upon the sun-disc 
Of the Nazarene's high teaching. 
No clear cause for madly plunging 
In the whirl of error's maelstrom. 

When his way of life selecting, 
Chose he Aristotle's^ calling. 
Wise Gamaliel's® avocation; 
Pedagogy, master science. 
Found in him a fond disciple. 

Past those stem heights,^ storm-browed, 

threatening. 
Onward toward the placid ocean,® 
To and from the flowery coastland, 
Ceime he to my mountain valley. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 

"Came and saw and" — swift surrendered, 
Met and loved my village Msiiden, 
Loved her with an adoration 
Such as angels win from mortals. 

Marvel not, for she was worthy 

Of a true heart's tenderest homage. 

Who that looked upon her beauty 
Could indifferent be thereafter? 
Figure willowy, lithe and slender; 
Oval face, Hellenics-featured, 
Tinge of pink on Parian marble,^^ 
Kiss of sunset on a snowdrift; 
Mouth, a Cupid's bow, revealing 
Perfect teeth of even whiteness; 
Eyes of blue, serene and thoughtful. 
Wistful gaze, far off and dreamward; 
Brow a Juno^^ might have envied. 
Hair, a coronal of glory. 

Spite of classic, stony stillness, 

Spite of what some deemed heart-coldness. 

She was flesh, though seeming marble. 

Flesh of quivering, finest fiber. 

Garb befitting spirit gentle. 

Tremulous with nerve and feeling, 

Sympathetic o'er the grieving. 

All inspired and all inspiring 

Helper of the upward toiling. 



8 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Last to seek a selfish comfort, 
First to feel the prompt of pity 
Toward the needy and the erring ; 
Ever mindful of the welfare 
Of the least and lowliest round her. 

Do you wonder love could worship 
Where such gifts and graces blended? 

What is love? Can speech define it? 
Love is mightier than language. 
Can the lesser bound the greater? 
Can the brook embrace the ocean? 

Love? Is it but lustful burning. 
Momentary flower of passion. 
Blooming forth from youthful vigor 
In the springtime of the senses? 

Ne'er be day with night confounded, 
Substance mingled with its shadow. 
Lust, the guise of love assuming. 
Wanders forth a homeless beggar. 
Here today, tomorrow yonder; 
Selfish, brutal, bent on taking. 
Savage, groveling and ungrateful. 
Love, possessor and provider. 
Ever giving, gaining ever. 
Wealthiest when most bestowing. 
Happiest when all imparting. 
Chivalrous, urbane and gentle. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 

Fine, and all around refining ; 
Anchored in appreciation, 
Loyal, constant and unchanging. 

Deem it not base-born, this passion, 
Even in its earthly phases; 
Call it not impure, unholy. 
Till it seek a goal forbidden. 
Coveting the unbelonging, 
Or pervert from wholesome purpose 
Its own lawful pure possession, 
Love dethroned by carnal craving, 
Lost in riotous o'erliving. 

Love is dual, love is twofold. 
Like the soul and all it symbols; 
Body, spirit, both essential 
To a rounded, full completion. 

Gate to life, and guide to living, 
Joy of earth, and ALL of Heaven; 
This, I ween, some part of love is. 

Was it absent or but latent? 
Was it dead or only slumbering. 
In the bosom of the Maiden? 



Gladly as my guest I welcomed 
Him, my college friend, companion. 
Had he been an only brother, 



10 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Scarce could I have held him dearer. 
He in turn esteemed me fondly. 
Such the tender tie that bound us, 
Seemed his triumphs my successes, 
Seemed my sadness his own sorrow ; 
Each the other's alter ego. 
David, Jonathan,^^ men named us. 
Would of this I had been worthy. 

Than his spirit nothing nobler 
Have I known in human nature. 
Character so pure and lofty. 
Clean and void of guilty blemish. 
As yon towering, snow-enameled. 
Sunlit peak, unsoiled, untainted. 
And by foot of man untrodden. 

Worthy he of such a woman, 

Symboled by the virgin valley. 

Bright with streams of crystal clearness, 

Garlanded with fruits and flowers. 

Gifted with a wondrous beauty. 

Dowered as a bride by Nature, 

Wedded to the stalwart mountain. 

In his giant arms reposing. 

Worthy he of such a woman; 

Sums it all this fit conclusion. 

Was it but a dreamer's fancy. 
His conviction, fondly cherished. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 11 

They had known and loved each other 

In some long forgotten lifetime, 

Ere oblivion had fallen 

As a veil 'twixt past and present? 

I but tell the human story, 
How they met and loved as mortals, 
On a planet time-horizoned. 
Prison-walled by past and future, 
Till probation's test be ended. 
Till doubt's dreary night be over, 
Till belief is done believing, 
And is face to face with knowing. 

Toward that high anticipation. 

Mounting homeward, yearning heavenward. 

Turns the heart, forever hoping. 

Hoping even while despairing, 

Soaring as an eagle soareth, 

Past the vapors of the valley. 

Past the steeps and storms of earth-life, 

To the Summits Ever-shining. 




II 



MEETING 



AUTUMN — pensive, brown-eyed Autumn, 
Queen of seasons in the Westland, 
Garbed in royal gold and purple, 
Reigned in rare imperial glory. 



'Twas a mild October evening. 
And my native town, close neighboring 
On the Village of my mention, 
Decked in day's departing splendor, 
Aureoled in hues of sunset. 
Jewel-sprayed the lovely landscape. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 13 

There the bidden educators 
Of a region rich in schoolmen 
And scholastic high endeavor, 
Came to toast and pledge each other. 

O'er that feast and flow of knowledge, 
Glow of youth and bloom of beauty. 
Flash of wit and flame of wisdom 
Played in cheerful warmth of greeting. 
Making brightness yet more brilliant, 
Joy more mirthful, mirth more geniad. 

And, as wont on such occasion. 
When lithe fancy soars triumphant. 
Spurning e'en the highest hill-top. 
Fact's most lofty summit scorning. 
Much of oral ostentation, 
O'erdone rhetoric, rare collation. 
Peppered well with jokes and punning. 
Sugar of delightful diction. 
Salt of fine poetic phrasing. 
Mingled with the coarser menu. 

Chance had made my former classmate — 

Though upon the scene arriving 

Late, and unanticipating 

The distinction thrust upon him — 

The occasion's guest of honor; 

In committee of arrangement. 

Unanimity's selection 

For chief place upon the program. 



14 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Ere the banqueters were seated, 
Sundry critics found diversion 
Carving up the new-arrived one, 
Honored, as they claimed, unduly. 

"Who and what is he, pray tell me?" 
Loftily interrogated 
Languorous one of twain, half yawning 
In his gracious condescension 
Toward a subject so unworthy. 
He, himself but late from Eastland,^* 
Hitherto the social lion. 
Had no relish for a rival 
In the field of fresh sensation. 

To his Lordliness responded. 
Sympathetic, keen, a woman. 
Witty, militant, aggressive. 
Stinging not from spite or malice. 
But from love — the love of stinging: 

"Who or what or whence, I know not. 
Some Veiled Prophet of Khorassan,^* 
Son of Moses or Mokanna; 
Some rare Solomon of Wisdom, 
Come to awe the Queen of Sheba.^'' 
Though I've heard his praises sounded, 
Gamuted in bass and treble. 
Adulation ad nauseam, 
Half I'm sure hath not been told me. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 15 

But I crave no swift revealing 

Of a brilliancy abnormsil; 

Sorrow might increase with knowledge; 

Too much light smote Saul with blindness."" 

Then to me, some moments later, 
Satire's barb now dipt in honey: 
"Who is he, this handsome stranger. 
Come from far to grace our banquet 
And to glorify the program?" 

Her I answered, not in anger, 
Though with earnestness of feeling; 
For to me the idle chatter 
Of the twain had been repeated : 

"He? A gentleman, a scholar, 
One who owns his education, 
And is not its slave, its puppet ; 
One who never stoops to cavil 
Or to criticise unjustly. 
'Hospitality' his watchword. 
Courtesy to every comer — 
Arab virtue," aye remembered 
By rough Ishmael of the desert; 
Oft forgotten by the 'cultured,' 
Whose politeness — ^thin veneering — 
Lacks the inward core of kindness. 
Who is he, our guest, our speaker? 
You will know him, once his portrait 
By his eloquence is painted." 



16 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Blushed a little, so I fancied, 
The fair critic, faintly smiling. 
And her pretty head high tossing 
In half obdurate defiance. 

While his Scomship, never deigning 
A reply, stood skyward gazing 
Through a monocle^^ superfluous — 
His main evidence of wisdom — 
As if conning some deep problem 
Past the human comprehension. 
Or all wirelessly communing 
With some atmospheric castle. 
Some imaginative planet. 
Peopled with a race superior. 
Typed by him, the one sole sample 
Vouchsafed to the line of Adam. 

Fell to me, as chosen chairman, 
Speech of welcome, words of greeting; 
To my friend, by special urging 
Past reluctance, the oration. 
His great theme, "The Educator." 
Ran it thus, as I remember: 

"Who is mightier than the teacher. 
Than the master educator. 
Mind-uplifting, soul-expanding, 
Re-creator of the creature? 
Mightiest when truth revealing. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 17 

High progression's pathway pointing, 
And perfection's goal unveiling. 

"Shall I paint my model teacher, 

As the mind-eye now beholds him. 

Looming like a stately mountain, 

Capt with snow and crowned with sunlight, 

Source of weed to smiling valleys. 

Listening at his feet, receptive? 

"First of all, a true commeinder. 
Master of himself, and teaching 
Precept by his high example. 

"Bending not to pagan idols. 
Seeking, past the gift, the Giver; 
Past the creature, the Creator. 
Troubled at no bigot's frowning. 
To no despot's dictum yielding, 
Tyranny and error fighting, 
'Liberty and Light' the legend 
Blazoned on his lofty banner; 
'Gainst all guile, all wrong, contending. 
Damning sin, yet saving sinners. 

"Playing to no gallery plaudit; 
Courting not wealth's recognition. 
Nor the rabble's vain approval; 
Swerving not, for praise or censure. 



18 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

From the line where duty leads him, 
And the path where judgment guides him, 
To the goal where honor crowns him. 

"Scornful of all petty practice. 
Stabbing no man's reputation, 
Filching not another's credit. 
Envying no life its laurels, 
Governed not by pride or passion. 
Coveting nor gold nor glory. 

"Tolerant of all opinion. 
Modest, temperate of expression; 
Given not to contradiction. 
E'en though clearest fact confirms him; 
Wielding an advantage mildly. 
Generous to a fallen f oeman ; 
Angered not by loss or losing, 
Nor in triumph's hour exulting ; 
Willing, eager, for correction. 
Welcoming from truth instruction; 
Humbled by his weight of knowledge. 
Ne'er too lofty to be learning. 

"Hungering for facts, not fictions, 
Unsufficed with classic nothings. 
Ancient myths or modem fables. 
Premature, half-fledged conclusions, 
Maybe-so's and peradventures. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 19 

"Waging war on vain Assumption, 
Heir, misbom and misbegotten, 
Of thy folly, Education, 
Of thy dalliance with Error. 

"Bringing from the deep potential. 
By persistent, patient toiling. 
Treasure that might else lie hidden. 
Buried out of sight forever. 
Lost to human weal, undreamed of 
Even by its dull possessor. 
But for thy benign exertion. 
Thy unselfish, strong endeavor. 
Educator ! mighty miner ! 
Precious ore, life's crude material. 
Crass and coarse, made fine and finer 
By thy marvel-working effort. 
By thy wonder-wielding power. 
Might-evolving thought and labor. 
By thy pains and sacrifices, 
Rarely known, requited never. 

"Name no teacher 'educator 
Who perverts his noble calling, 
Youthful minds and hearts misleading, 
Prostituting and profaning 
Reason's shrine with ribald worship, 
Offerings of alien fire, 
Incense unto Atheism. 
Israel, Israel's God forsaking. 
Bowing down to Baal and Dagon." 



20 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

"Spuming Truth, Time's navigator, 

Captain of the craft Experience, 

With his trusty lamp of guidance. 

Lit for valorous exploration 

Through the zones of doubt and darkness; 

Past the frozen seas, outsailing 

Icebergs of old dead tradition; 

Past the cheerful camps of science. 

On the coast of demonstration; 

On through shoal and lake and river, 

On to Wisdom's open ocean. 

"Fares not so false Self Assurance, 
Pirate craft, the pennant flaunting 
Of the brave ship Self Reliance ; 
Reckless bark on danger's billow, 
Heeding not the warning breakers 
Thundering 'gainst the reef of ruin; 
Steering not by star and compass. 
But by comet blsize — false beacon. 
Beckoning on to fell destruction. 

"Be alert, good honest teacher. 
Lest improvement mark thee laggard. 
Lest progression leave thee stranded. 
Slumbering in the past and slighting 
Both the present and the future. 

"Oracles of commonplaces. 
Stale old platitudes repeating; 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 21 

Parrots of the musty proverb, 

Truths self-evident proclaiming; 

Education's praises sounding 

In pedantic threadbare diction, 

Superannuated phrasing. 

Ancient wisdom's cast-off clothing. 

Owl-like e'en in worldly knowledge, 

Bat-like to divine revealings. 

Shunning light and seeking shadow, 

Lost in maze of aimless aimings. 

Lost in endless flutterings, flounderings — 

Can we deem them educators? 

"Who are these, as teachers posing, 
That most need instruction's training, 
Switch of satire's keen correction? 
Alma Mater's^" cultured coxcombs, 
Sneering cynics, supercilious. 
Pleased with nothing but their mirrors. 
Wooing flattery's reflection. 
Swollen peacocks in full feather. 
Airing their superior (?) knowledge. 
Showing thus a lack of learning, 
Woeful lack of understanding. 
Poverty, where wealth is wisdom. 
Wanting which, all else is wanting. 
Parasites of education. 
Blight upon a great profession, 
Loftiest of man's vocations. 



22 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

"Whose throne higher than the teacher's 

Chair of chaste and wise instruction? 

Shames what king the pure preceptor, 

Christ's most Christlike emulator? 

He who aims to lift his fellow, 

He who strives to make the creature 

Grateful to the good Creator, 

Equal unto earth's requiring. 

And Eternity's demanding — 

Master of both situations. 

"Less than this — the soul's evolvement. 

With the full of its potentials, 

To the summit of its powers; 

Less than this — man's loftiest conquest — 

Victory o'er self, securing 

All that's best in life and living, 

All of worth here aind hereafter. 

Cannot be a ripened culture. 

Is not perfect education. 

"Near to thee, Divine Ordainer ! 
Next to thee, O God the Giver! 
He who makes thy boon seem greater. 
Thy benefic meaning plainer. 

"Work of poet and of prophet. 
Wisdom's pupil, learning's teacher. 
Education's aviator. 
Cleaving skies of last attainment. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 23 

And with heavenly fire returning, 
On faith's altar truth rekindling!' 
Revelator! true Promethean !^^ 
Blest vocation — Christ's own calling. 

"Great thy mission, Educator ! 
Complement of thine. Creator ! 
Ending of thy vast beginning. 
Laying hold at thy leave-taking; 
Ocean-like, the craft receiving, 
When the land hath done its launching. 

"Education and Creation, 
Are they not as one, scanned wisely? 
Are they not the same, seen clearly ? 
He who spake as no man speaketh, 
Master-Teacher of all teachers. 
One with thee. Almighty Maker! 
Thou with him. Great Educator!" 



Husht into respectful silence 
E'en the frivolous, the unthinking, 
Awed by his impressive manner 
And his eloquent soul-searching. 
So absorbed was meditation. 
Following firm-gript attention. 
Judgment failed to nod approval. 
And applause forgot to thunder. 



24 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

When at length appreeiation 
Found a voice, congratulations 
Flew like doves unto their windows; 
Compliments, as autumn foliage. 
Showering thick and fast upon him. 
Criticism sheathed its rapier, 
And with clamorous approbation 
Clapt its hands in childlike rapture. 
Plain 'twas seen that by this champion 
Truth had scored a deep impression. 

Deep where depth of mind permitted — 

Lordly Languor the exception; 

His hurt pride he salved with silence. 

Or with plaud of lesser numbers. 

Envy's ruse when disingenuous, 

When 'twould fain seem just and generous; 

Overlauding under merit. 

Mute while honest praise is sounding 

O'er superior achievement; 

Meanness hiding, yet not hidden. 

Watched I one face rife with interest. 
Wondering how far admiration, 
Beaming from her classic features, 
Had dispelled agnostic shadows. 
O'er her splendid spirit hovering — 
Heresies of atheism, 
Garnered from scholastic vineyards. 
Tares amid the wheat found growing. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 25 

Midway of the varied program, 
From her place among the many, 
As a flower, a lovely lily 
In a wilderness of roses, 
She, my story's inspiration. 
Rose responsive to the challenge 
Of the toastman's soaring diction. 

What she said now matters little ; 
Witty 'twas, and wise and timely. 
How she looked, my memory's treasure. 

Bowing, smiling salutation 
Right and left, as 'twere an empress 
Giving her good subjects greeting- 
Then it was his eye fell on her. 
Captive to her charm of manner. 
Prisoner to her many graces, 
Love at once full tribute paid her, 
Love to loveliness surrendered. 

Whence, I ween, these tender verses. 
Found among his cherished tokens: 

Her portrait I'll paint you. 

But that will acquaint you 
With only the least of her charms; 

Though her loveliness dare 

With perfection compare, 
And her sweetness all censure disarms. 



26 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

From her dainty toe tips, 

To where rose leaves for lips 

Breathe a spell as of orchards abloom, 
E'en the lily less white 
Than this dream of delight, 

Sent my soul to uplift and illume. 

As when evening's glow 

Gilds the summits of snow 
On Shasta's, on Helen's high crest,^^ 

Mark the undulant line 

Of a beauty divine — 
A billow by moonbeams caressed ! 

But the mountains aglow 
With the sun and the snow 

Reveal not the treasures within; 
And the surges that shake 
The long shore while they break. 

What whisper from them can we win 

Of the jewels and gold. 

Of the riches untold 
Lying hid in the deep coral caves. 

Where the pearl hath a home 

In the heart of the foam, 
In the mystical realm of the waves? 

Perchance when I try 
Not all helpless am I, 
Sweetest face, fairest form, to extol; 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 27 

But I never can tell 
Half the virtues that dwell 
In the depths of her glorified soul. 



"Dawn of love?" Nay, thus the simple, 
Reckoning not with things eternal, 
Deeming all of life imprisoned 
In a part of life called "present". 
Let them be, with their delusion; 
Let them sleep if they would slumber; 
They shall wake — the morning cometh. 

All things great have pre-existence, 

And a claim on life hereafter. 

Be this true of human living, 

Why not true of human loving? 

Life cind Love, are they not equal. 

Complement of one another? 

God hath joined them. Who shall part them? 

Dare man, e'en in thought, divorce them? 

Love is more than earthly longing. 
Love is more than mortsd yearning. 
More, far more than lover's plighting. 
More than marital uniting 
Lest a world should go unpeopled. 

Love? 'Tis spirit recognition. 
Mate to mate entreating, pleading 



28 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

For renewal of affection, 
For continued fond communion, 
Formed of yore in some far planet, 
Ancestor of this creation, 
Formed by mutual attraction, 
Sanctioned by God's smile paternal. 
Gift of Him, a boon benignant. 
Promise of a joy unending. 
From a union everduring. 

After banquet, a reception. 

And they met — the Maid, the Lover, 

Evermore her fond adorer. 

Held in fetters dear, delightsome ; 

Nevermore to taste of freedom 

From that willing, thrilling thraldom. 




Ill 

PARTING 



WAS it chance or high intending? 
Was it cruelty or kindness? — 
Hidden good or heartless evil, 
That compelled their separation? 
Had he tarried with her longer 
Would the fates have changed their fortunes? 
Who can tell till Judgment sitteth 
At the hour of all-unveiling? 

Scarce had mixt their mutual glances, 
Scarce had thrilled the soft hand-pressure, 



30 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

When a message him far summoned 
From that scene of soul reunion : 
"Father dying, mother yearning 
For the presence of her children." 
So ran duty's urgent summons, 
Honored without hesitation. 



Time had grown a twelvemonth older — 

Nay, 'twas but the noon of summer, 

When my friend, once more forsaking 

Home of youth and scenes of sireland. 

Waved farewell, a final parting 

With green-hilled and fair New England; 

Hurrying on by rail and river. 

Speeding far o'er plain and prairie. 

Eager to give salutation 

To the monarchs of the mountains. 

To the bold, cloud-cleaving Rockies. 

Even now as I salute them: 
Friends, companions of my childhood! 
Comrades evermore congenial! 
Ministers to meditation. 
Mood-compelling, mind-uplifting. 
Lending wings for fancy's soaring, 
Luring to sublime reflection ! 

Venerable and virile guardians, 
Watchers o'er the weal of Westland; 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 31 

Magi of a mystic region, 
Witcheried and rife with wonders; 
Marvelous in mineral values, 
Marvelous in relics, ruins. 
Heir to ages immemorial. 
Grave of glories long departed. 
Sepulchre of civilizations, 
Buried, and as yet unrisen. 

Blind to wonders and to marvels, 

Sped he on with wistful vision. 

Fain to glimpse from far the welcoming 

Harbor of swift-sailing fancies. 

Goal of fond anticipation; 

Eager to behold the Valley 

And the Village and the M£iiden. 

Changed was he from what he had been; 
Heavy woes had on him fallen; 
Father — ^mother — all his kindred 
To the Spirit Land departed ; 
And his soul, by sorrow deepened, 
In religious thought had ripened. 

One Whom he had honored erstwhile, 
Now he worshipt — ^not as worship 
Many would-be sage disciples 
Of the Merciful and Gracious, 
By a reverent irreverence^^ 
Stript of his divine essentials. 



32 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

His identity with Godhood; — 
Worshipt him as God made mortal, 
Just as runs the gospel story 
In the uncorrupted rendering 
Of a plain unwrested Scripture. 

Mortal made that man might profit 

By His wondrous condescension; 

Living as life's great Exemplar, 

Dying to bring death's destruction. 

To repoise unbalanced justice. 

And restore right's equilibrium; 

To unlock, for man's promotion. 

All the avenues to Glory. 

Ends ordained ere choiring mom stars 

Harped them round Earth's infant cradle. 

Partly had my presentation 
Of the modem Prophet's^* teachings — 
Theme of many conversations- 
Paved the way for his conversion. 
Partly was it due to others 
Of the Christ faith and persuasion. 
Mostly had it sprung from striving 
In an earnest prayerful wrestling 
With the God that giveth wisdom 
Unto all men, none upbraiding. 

Then — rebirth, illumination! 
By the Spirit all discerning. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 33 

Saw he what no man beholdeth. 

Save the Light from Heaven be in him — 

Saw the Nazarene as Saviour! 

Saw the slandered one, His prophet! 

And beheld the grey-gold dawning 

Of a Gospel dispensation! 

Oh the restfulness, the rapture 
Of that mystical unveiling ! 
Of that marvelous beholding ! 

Love was loftier now and holier, 
Than when Eros^^ woke the embers 
In his bosom's depth rekindling. 

Love — can it be soul-sufficing. 
Ever fonder, dearer growing; 
Can it flourish all-enduring. 
Every tempest shock surviving, 
When not grounded on religion. 
On some hope beyond the human? 

Is it love, if faith be wanting — 
Trust in God, the trust that bringeth 
Confidence in man and woman. 
Confidence in life and living? 

Faithless love — cold contradiction ! 
Faith lost, love lost, life and all things. 
Faith, Hope, Love, the graces triune. 
What were one without the others? 



34 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Yes, the heart-flame burned more brightly 
For the soul-torch in him blazing. 
Earth was fairer, Heaven was nearer, 
Hope to Memory was singing: 



I thought I loved thee. Darling, 
In the dear days gone before. 

When first thy beauty charmed me, 
When first its chain I wore; 

When hotly flamed love's furnace, 

Yet flung no beacon-light, 
To guide through doubt and darkness. 

And glorify the night. 

I know I loved thee, dear one. 
With heart and mind aglow. 

Ere passion's tumbling torrent 
Had learned love's placid flow. 

'Twas love, but not love's fulness. 

The crown of after days. 
The sceptre of a dream divine 

That still my spirit sways. 

I knew not then the meaning 

Of that mysterious power. 
Which makes strong men seem children, 

Bids dwarfs to Titans^^ tower. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 35 

I did not see thee, Darling, 

Though near me thou didst bide, 

Blooming in girlhood's garden. 
Fairer than all beside. 

But now I see thee — know thee. 

Beneath a purer ray. 
And love thee as I never loved, 

And could not till today. 

Pure passion, ripening, ripening still, 

And evermore to range 
From mighty unto mightier love. 

Yet know no other change. 



He had found the pearl-like jewel. 
Truth, the deathless, the unchanging, 
And had stooped to where beside it 
Sparkled love and life eternal. 
And he bore to her the tidings 
How she also might possess them. 
Would she listen to the Teacher 
Who had led him to the altar 
Of the souFs illumination. 

Onward sped the anxious Lover, 
Steam and lightning the slow pinions 
Bearing him to hope's dear haven. 



36 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

He was past the mighty barrier, 

Mountain spine^^ of wondrous Northland, 

Continental stream-divider, 

Hebe^^ of the melting snowdrift, 

Ganymedes of the glacier. 

Cooling draughts from crystal fountains 

Sharing to each thirsty ocean ; 

Southward, westward, then had journeyed 

Many leagues of dreary distance 

O'er a waste of sand and sun-glare, 

Dead and dying desolations. 

When the iron Titan halted. 

Panting, all but falling prostrate. 

As a spent steed on Sahara. 

Pending power's recuperation, 
Useless the disabled engine. 
Overheated in the tenseness 
Of the travel's rush and roaring. 

Ere complete the prompt repairing. 
Flashed from far the doleful tidings : 
"Bridge gone — train- wreck in the pathway!" 
Onward movement blocking, barring, 
While the cumbered track was clearing. 

Some who rode now fell to wandering 
O'er the voiceless waste surrounding ; 
Some with games and sports beguiling 
Time the trainmen gave to toiling. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 37 

Straying far from his companions, 

Giving rein to meditation, 

He, my lonely poet pilgrim, 

Found him in an ancient forest^® — 

Not like Dante's dreamed-of woodland. 

Growth of gloom, prophetic portal. 

Threshold to the shades infernal ; 

But a forest real, though fallen. 

Overturned, shattered, prone and crumbling, 

Dead, and dreaming of the ages 

Of far time through which it flourished 

Upright in umbrageous glory. 

Trees of stone, of flinty fiber. 

Trunks and twigs cind knotted fragments, 

Hardened, lifeless petrefactions, 

Strewfl in far and wide profusion 

On the parching, sun-seared desert. 

What the cause of his depression? 
What the secret of the sadness 
That enwrapt him as a mantle. 
While he scanned that flinty, fiery. 
Glaring, sun-scorched desolation? 

Did it whisper of the desert 

Unto which his heart was hastening? 

Did it tell him of a statue. 

Love alone could melt to woman? — 

Love of God, not love of human. 



38 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Poets have such premonitions, 
Heirs are they to intimations, 
Seeings, hearings, intuitions, 
Undiscemed, unfelt by most men. 

Were the poet unprophetic, 
Or the prophet unpoetic. 
Each were wanting in equipment 
For the mission laid upon him. 

Day on day the Titan halted. 
Day on day the Pilgrim wandered, 
Joined betimes a troop of travelers. 
Touring from the flinty forest. 
Steeds bestriding, onward moving 
Past the slowly melting barrier. 

Chief among the sights compelling 
Mingled awe and admiration. 
Far along a great gulf opened,^° 
Monster-jawed, as though devouring 
In its wide voracious vastness. 
In its Saturn-mouth,^^ unsated 
As the hungry deeps of Sheol,^^ 
Storm-struck, down-hurled cities, temples, 
In its fell maw crusht and crumbling. 

Cleft and sundered Earth there yawning 
O'er abysmal dark Perdition! 
Fancied so the spelled beholder, 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 39 

Halting on the marge precarious 
Of that ghoul-like gulf appalling. 

Savage scar on face of Nature, 
Weird and terrible as Hades; 
Gaping wound in God's creation, 
Awful, dread, beyond description, 
Beggaring imagination. 

Nature, stript and scourged and bleeding, 

Thorn-crowned and to Calvary driven, 

And her gorgeous robe imperial 

Shredded as by tempest furies, 

Tom to streaming flags and tatters; 

Tragic coat of many colors. 

Trampled, bloodstained, riven and writhing, 

Twisting into forms fantastic. 

As by witchery infernal. 

Riding on the steeds of darkness, 

Lightning-goaded, throbbing, thundering. 

Was it earthquake, valley-cleaving? 

Was it whirlwind, mountain-shouldering? — . 

Fierce upheaval and convulsion. 

Or swift deluge and erosion, 

Shaped these frightened crags and caverns. 

Carved these shuddering precipices? 

Gulf of gulfs and gorge of gorges. 
Length on length of leagues extending. 



40 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Breadth of miles on miles expanding, 
Down from dizzy brink to torrent, 
Eight mad furlongs wildly plunging. 

Mind-amazing, world-alluring, 
Crowning wonder of the Westland! 

Glorious and grotesque presentment, 
Good and ill, a motley vision, 
Half-alluring, half repelling ; 
Rainbow-hued, yet shorn of radiance, 
Like to Lucifer the Fallen; 
Beautiful, though sadly brilliant. 
Blazing with satanic splendor 
In the sunset's dying glory; 
All the hues of hell and heaven 
In one blare of lurid blazoning, 
In one master stroke commingled. 

Night — then mom-burst ! Angel Sunrise, 

Archer from the gates of Orient, 

Crimson-golden arrows speeding 

Through the gloom and 'thwart the gra5niess. 

Crowning every crest with splendor, 

Flooding every glen with glory. 

Angel of the Sovereign Presence, 

Messenger of Light's deliverance. 

Rolling back the rock sepulchral 

For the glad Day's resurrection ! 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 41 

Prophecy of blight and blooming, 
Crucifixion and ascension. 

Seemed it so to him there gazing, 
Brave heart, though he shook and trembled 
Ere the dark had come to dawning, 
From that fearful brink recoiling; 
Shrinking back from more beholding 
Of the symboled immolation. 

Trembled less with fear than boding 
Of some occult mystic meaning. 
Esoteric sad foretelling. 
In the sacrificial showing. 

He, a dreamer, like that Joseph'^ 
Glorified from pit and prison. 
Martyred with a wholesome sorrow, 
Ending in his exaltation ; 
Like him was he doomed, f oredestined 
To the grief that bringeth gladness. 
To the gloom that breaks in glory? 

Thoughts like these were round him hovering, 
0*er him as a storm-cloud gathering. 
While the train was onward thundering. 
While he journeyed toward the Sunset, 
Toward the land of bitter waters. 



42 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Desert land redeemed and smiling, 
Sleeping land from slumber wakened, 
Land of villages and vineyards. 
Land of valleys mountain-girdled, 
Mekka^* of his earnest longings. 
Home of memory's fondest dreamings; 
Thither drawn as steel to loadstone. 




IV 
RETURN 

DREAMS may soar to highest Heaven, 
And the dreamer wake in Hades. 
Cruder than fact is fancy, 
Lifting cup to lip, then downward 
Dashing all, joy's nectar spilling. 

Fortune frowned upon his wooing ; 
Disappointment dogged his footsteps 
From the hour of his returning 
To where hope had lit a welcome 
As a window-shining beacon. 
Luring back, with needless beckoning. 
Love from loneliness and wandering. 

False the hope, the welcome wanting. 
Void the bright anticipation. 



44 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

She for whom his heart had hungered 
Through long months of separation, 
Was no more a modest dweller 
'Mid the scenes her daily presence 
Once enlivened and illumined. 

Wealth had come, and with it absence — 
Absence not alone of person. 
Peace of mind was playing truant, 
Calm content had fled to exile. 
Cottage had been changed for mansion, 
Village for the town forsaken. 

Far remote from first surroundings. 
Reigned she, social queen resplendent. 

"Gone?" — he questioned in amazement, 
When to him I broke the tidings — 
"Gone? When? Whither? What the motive? 
What the purpose of removal?" 

"Hers," I answered, "the high motive 

Of the student and the scholar. 

Eager in the quest for learning 

And a wider world experience. 

Theirs — the kindred — their prime purpose 

Nothing nobler, to my thinking. 

Than a frivolous indulgence 

Of desire for ostentation. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 45 

"Her one passion, education — 
Evermore that thirst for culture! 
Theirs, a pleasure-loving spirit 
And a social aspiration — 
Moth round candle vainly fluttering." 

"Education !" — he repeated, 
Wonder his dark eye dilating — 
"In a school where dissipation 
And frivolity are teachers? 
More, far more had she of learning, 
Than will henceforth her environ. 
I foresee no acquisition 
Worthy the high name of culture. 

"Naught had she to gain by going. 
Save, perchance, some sad experience. 
With development through sorrow. 
But we'll hope a happier outcome 
Than anxiety now visions." 

Least of all his disappointments, 
Baffled hopes and broken plannings. 
This removal of the jewel 
From the casket erst enclosing; 
Now to shine with gairish brilliance 
On Society's nude bosom. 

Speed could stride like a colossus^^ 
O'er material space between them; 



46 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

But the quest his soul was seeking 

Lay beyond, far off and farther, 

And the way thereto was thorny. 

He could mix with Babel's millions,^^ 

Be "among them," though "not of them," 

Be with her, and yet worlds distant 

From the goal of his desiring. 

Gulfs and train-wrecks were but shadowings 
Of the obstacles encountered. 



Spanned the distance intervening, 
Met he first the opposition. 
Cold, repellant and forbidding, 
Of quick-rich, ambitious kindred. 
Money-loving social climbers, 
Aping show and chasing shadows; 
Poor but yesterday and humble. 
Proud today, upstartly haughty. 
Millionaires of chance's minting, 
Wealthy made by lucky mining. 
Boastful of the rock they hewed from. 
Blushful for the pit they rose from. 

Having eyes to see, they saw not; 
Kenning none of "auld acquaintance" 
Save the likewise fortune-favored. 
Smiling in swift recognition 
On rich rogues, if fashion owned them. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 47 

All who prospered in things worldly 
Welcomed were to their communion; 
Lucre, well or evil gotten, 
Surest passport to their favor. 

And their aims for her were lofty — 
So to their vain minds the seeming : 

"She must wed with wealth and station; 
Less than this were arrant folly. 
Unbecoming her position, 
Which might well attract a title. 
And win royal recognition. 
And since these you cannot offer. 
What commends you to our favor?" 

Thus they greeted the "intruder". 
One unchained to Mammon's chariot,^^ 
Vanity's world-fair despising. 

To their cold and scornful question, 
Silence was his only answer — 
Eloquent and all-sufficing 
When contempt finds full expression. 

Once admitted to her presence. 

He could plead his cause more freely. 

She was changed from what she had been, 
Changed since bom his brief acquaintance 



48 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

With this playmate of my childhood; 
Changed, though not at one in most things 
With her worldly vain surroundings. 

No mean, petty, sordid prompting 
Steeled the Maiden's heart against him; 
Yet 'twas far the snowiest summit 
In a range of difficulties 
Flung athwart his onward pathway. 
Rising alp on alp before him. 
Mountainous her cold indifference 
Unto him and unto all men. 

Seemed she past the pale of romance, 
Past the pale and power of loving. 
What the cause, ofttimes was questioned, 
But the problem shunned solution. 

May an overthirst for knowledge 
Parch the soul, till dry and barren 
Are the fountains of affection? 

Dead were days of tender dreaming? 
Dead — or did she love another? 
Poniard thought ! What pangs it started 
In the breast of her adorer ! 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 49 

Seated in my study, bending 

O'er a master poet's volume, 

Gift from him, wherein her portrait 

Marked the page of my perusing — 

Portrait of her girlhood, given 

In our school days, days idyllic. 

Days of dreams, when hearts beat happiest; 

Seemed my gaze upon it fastened. 

Seemed I gloating on it fondly. 

In reality beholding 

Book nor bookmark at that moment. 

So complete was mind abstraction. 

Sight no less than thought went wandering. 

While I lingered, lost in reverie. 
Deeming him afar, no tidings 
Of his coming having reached me, 
Entered he, as was his custom 
In my home, sans ceremony. 
Unannounced and unsaluting. 
Plain to him what I beheld not — 
Features, once seen, ne'er forgotten — 
And in agony of feeling. 
Such as jealous fear engenders. 
Thus his torn soul he unbosomed: 

"You, then — you the favored suitor! 
You, my friend, likewise her lover ! 
Rivals — ^Jonathan and David! 
God ! Why need this to have happened? 



50 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

"Should you not have been more candid, 

Sparing her my vain appealings, 

Sparing me humiliation? 

When I questioned, *Did you love her?' 

And you answered, *Yes, as sister,' 

Did you bare your soul, my brother? 

Did you tell me all? Oh answer! 

Is there — is there aught between you? 

Speak, affirm, and I shall never 

Seek her more, but serve your wooing 

Till success with joy hath crowned you. 

And you win the prize I covet." 

Touched me more than his reproaches. 
His sublime self-abnegation. 
Generous proffer of assistance 
'Gainst himself and aim so cherished. 

Moments flew ere my rejoinder 
Clothed itself in thought's apparel. 
When I spake 'twas with emotion 
Equal to his own, though varying: 

"Charge me not with lack of candor; 
Credit me consideration. 
Wanting was my speech in fulness? 
'Twas to ease your mind the sooner, 
And avoid the unmeant probing 
Of my own pride-wounded spirit. 
That my love is pure, platonic. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 51 

And my friendship, like yours, loyal, 
Let sincerity assure you. 

"We were playmates e'en from childhood, 
Grew to be like brother, sister, 
Little dreaming aught more tender 
Might upspring from our attachment. 
Neither did it in her bosom. 
In my breast a flame was kindled. 
Only to be quenched as quickly. 
When it met no spark responsive 
Of reciprocal emotion. 

"We were not for one another. 
Though her loveliness enthralled me. 
Who hath e'er been proof against it? 

"Gone the hope of love's requital, 
We continued friends, as erstwhile, 
Though by her removal parted. 
And for some cause distant growing. 

"I but half divine the reason — 
Would not hazard an expression 
Of what might prove vain surmising. 
You will learn without my telling. 

"Ever was she strange, unusual. 
Quite unlike most other women. 
Courtship, love and marriage shunning; 



52 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Books her only favored suitors, 
Their caresses all-sufficing. 

"Yet must there be better reason 
Than the love of light and learning, 
For a cloud that dims the splendor 
Of an erstwhile sunny spirit. 

" 'Twas the subject I was pondering, 
When your coming drove the day-dream. 

"Know I one man and one only. 
Who might win her heart's affection. 
Who might chase this chilling shadow; 
And he mopes here in dejection. 
Doubting, fearing, half desponding. 
Shivering in the wintry breezes 
Blown from frowning heights above him. 

" 'Alps on alps' — What said Napoleon 
Of such barriers? *There shall be none.' 
Take one leaf from his bold guide-book; 
Onward o'er the icy summits 
Till you conquer at Marengo !^^ 

"I shall pray that you may triumph, 
Every obstacle surmounting, 
Your defeat to victory turning. 
Other help would only hinder. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 53 

"Now go forth unto the battle, 

And the God of hosts go with you!" 

Thrown his stalwart arms around me, 
Smiles and tears each other chasing 
O'er his countenance, irradiant 
With a hope, a joy resplendent. 



Still she welcomed not his wooing; 
Long postponed, for some strange reason 
On her part, the recognition 
Of what loomed to him apparent 
From the moment of their meeting. 
Mated, one, in all congenial — 
Such they were ; his soul affirmed it. 
And the inward-prompting Spirit 
Stamped with truth the affirmation, 
Sealing with a sure conviction. 

Why in vain were his adv£inces? 
Why resisted love's invasion? 
Deaf to all his importuning. 
Passion's pure and fervent pleading. 
Gazed she silent and unheeding 
As the Sphinx on Egypt's desert. 

Goaded nigh to desperation 
By her unreceptive coldness. 
By the frost of her demeanor, 



54 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

In a moment misanthropic 

Flung he from his pen this poem: 

Be thou statue, be thou woman, 

Have I not been kind to thee? 
Must I bow before thine altar, 

But to see thee turn and flee? 
Must this heart heave on forever 

*Neath its passion, swift or slow. 
And thine own remain unyielding, 

Fixt and frozen as the snow? 

Where the sympathy so tender, 

Once so quick to soothe and heal? 
Hast thou pleasure in the burden 

Of the wretchedness I feel? 
Maiden, thou whose sunny glances 

Caused the iciest breast to glow! 
What has turned thy heart to ashes? 

What has made thee as the snow? 

Burns the flame that finds no fuel? 

Shall the unfed fountain run? 
Sings the bird that wakes no echo? 

Blooms the flower that sees no sun? 
Nevermore will I adore thee. 

Stony-hearted goddess — Go ! 
With thy whiter brow than marble, 

And thy bosom cold as snow. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 55 

Quickly from such mood repenting, 
Pessimistic thoughts repressing, 
Turned he yet again to wooing. 
Reason reinforcing passion 
In the warfare of persuasion: 

"Dare you face the Final Judgment, 

All sufficed with what you now are? 

Owe you nothing to your Maker? 

What of race perpetuation? 

Would you go through life delinquent. 

All possessing, naught bestowing? 

With the wealth that Nature gave you. 

Wealth of beauty, talent, wisdom, 

Why not cancel obligation, 

And make future days your debtor? 

"Think upon a mateless Ever! 
Servant lot,"^" though shared by angels. 
Nay, smile not — we live hereafter. 
And are either served or serving." 

Thus he argued, thus he reasoned. 
And anon she thus made answer : 

"I admire your deep sincereness, 
Though I share not your conviction. 
Be it true that Mother Nature 
Gave but to exact repayment, 
Making it no gift, but purchase — 



56 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

I am cheated in a bargain 
That withheld all predilection 
To bestow myself in marriage 
And secure the joys maternal. 

"Where, then, is my obligation? 
Is it not already canceled 
By such fraudulent creation? 

"Come what may, I cannot change it — 
This man-shunning disposition. 
Preference for mind communion 
With the nobles of the ages, 
Through the medium of letters, 
To a commonplace relation 
Formed by ties of love and wedlock. 

"Prejudice, I've none 'gainst marriage 

As a social institution; 

But I lack the inclination 

To give more than my approval 

For the race perpetuation. 

"Why? Ask Nature, my Creator. 
I must love ere I can marry. 
And sex-love and I are strangers. 

"As for endless single service" — 
Here her smile grew half derisive — 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 57 

"Having borne so long with mortals, 
Need I fear to fare with angels?" 

Thus she foiled both love and logic, 
Thus she parried all his pleadings. 

Marvel not, fond, faithful wooer ! 
When did love e'er bend to reason? 
What he feels, his intuition, 
This the only star of guidance. 
This the only helm of steering 
Known to Eros on his cruisings. 

Love with love ne'er need to argue ; 
Love is not, where love must reason. 

Cupid condescend to argue? 
Give or take an explanation? 
Cupid argues with his arrows, 
And they leap to their conclusions. 
What cares he for cause or pleading? 
Guilty — innocent — no matter ; 
Hugs he still his own conviction. 

Love is love, and reason reason, 
Opposite as heat and cold are. 

Yet how lame e'en here is logic. 
Love is first and last of reasons. 
What were all mind's architecture, 



58 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Intellect's proud superstructure, 
If not grounded on the feeling? 
If the heart, the soul were wanting? 

Should there be a dearth of feeling 
In the cold or calloused bosom 
Of the maid thou art adoring, 
Hope but little from thy logic. 
As spilt water all thy pleading. 

If, despite the true heart-prompting, 
Mind alone have life's direction, 
And no spark, no fire of feeling 
Fall from Heaven, the right revealing. 
Where the anchor and the cable? 
Where, for storm-tossed souls, the beacon 
That shall keep the best from wandering? 




DISILLUSION 

"j^ EARTH was there of deepest feeling 

^^ In the bosom of the Maiden. 

Marvel not, for all is shallow 

In the ebb-tides of affection. 

They must love who live profoundly — 

Love and worship ; both essential 

In the deeps that are the deepest. 



As a cloud that shuts the sunlight 
From a meadow starred with flowers, 
O'er the beauty and the brightness, 
The divineness of her spirit. 



60 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Shadows as of some great sorrow 
Hovered ghostlike, unrelenting. 

Yet 'twas not the ghost of sorrow, 

Spectral shade of bygone grieving 

O'er lost love or unrequited, 

That engloomed and weighed her under. 

What then? Is there aught more saddening? 

Ay, the sadness born of darkness, 
Spirit darkness, thick, overwhelming. 
Though it come not in a moment. 
Nor with thundrous tone and threatening. 
But with stealthy step, insidious 
As the blighting upas vapor,*'' 
Creeping o'er its slumbering victim. 
Breathing death, the soul's destruction. 

Mists of Error's exhalation. 

Sprung from godless college training, 

Shadows deeper, denser growing, 

'Mid irreverent environs; 

These obscured her mental brightness. 

Half eclipsed her noble nature, 

Robbed it of a wealth of sweetness. 

Honey into wormwood changing. 

Love was starved, and faith was dwindling, 
Faith in God, in man, in all things. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 61 

Sure the downward graduation 
Of the soul that lives to question. 

"Faith *a principle of power' ?" 
Nay — mere credulous confiding, 
Willingness to hug delusion." 
Thus ofttimes outspoke the Maiden. 

"When did ever blind believing 

Scale the heights of truth and knowledge? 

Doubt, not faith, betokens wisdom. 

And bespeaks the mind's expansion. 

Faith contented is with trusting; 

Doubt demands the explanation. 

'Tis a whiplash to progression. 

And a spur to all endeavor." 

Such the letter of her logic, 
Such the spirit of her teaching. 

"Pardon well-meant contradiction," 
Lover thus to Maid responded. 
"Doubt its mission hath, I grant you; 
Hence, I doubt your declaration. 
When it springs from sense of caution, . 
When it warns of lurking danger. 
Doubt, indeed, is wisdom's handmaid — 
Nay, 'tis wisdom's self, no other. 
Not so, when to doubt is treason, 
When it signifies rebellion, 
As involving truth's rejection. 



62 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

"In a world by Faith created, 
And designed for faith's promotion — 
Faith, that reacheth after knowledge 
As a flower that seeks the sunlight ; 
Knowledge, fatal to all progress 
If on man poured prematurely; 
How can doubt lead up to knowing, 
When its every trend is downward? 

"If doubt be the path to wisdom. 
Then doth wisdom lurk beneath us, 
And is not upon the summits. 
Beckoning hope to high achievement. 

"Paganism's classic fiction. 
Throning wisdom on Olympus, 
With Apollo and Minerva*^ 
And the art-inspiring Muses, 
Nearer truth is than such teaching. 

"Doubt was ne'er the cause of doing; 
Brake, not wheel, its proper symbol. 
Faith alone impels to research. 
E'en as searching leads to finding; 
Faith the primal inspiration. 
Spur and mainspring of endeavor. 

"E'en the question academic, 

That must preface all inquiry. 

Springs from faith, the root of knowledge. 

And is born of light, not darkness. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 63 

"Faith, not doubt, solves reason's problems, 
Lights the torch elucidation. 
Through the misty caves of science 
Piloting investigation. 

" *Doubt demands' — ^but faith discovers 
And brings forth *the explanation'. 

"Truth is found by firm believing, 
Never *blind,' however humble. 
Willing to be led, and wisely 
Trusting, but while trusting, toiling. 
Toward its goal forever climbing. 

"Thus we scale the Empyrean, 

Thus we mount from earth to heaven. 

Round by round, a firm foot planting 

First on faith, its strength ne'er doubting; 

Then unto repentance rising. 

And the dual birth baptismal. 

Where the human hath its cleansing. 

Ere divine illumination 

Lighteth on to higher living 

And to loftier attainment. 

"Works are but belief's expression, 
Steps of faith's transcendent stairway — 
Process of the soul's salvation, 
Path of infinite progression. 



64 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

"Faith, the parent of obedience, 
Holds the key to every blessing,^^ 
Opens all the locks for progress 
On the highway to perfection. 

** 'Tis by faith we have our being. 
All life's power and all life's action. 
Doubt invites defeat, destruction. 
Doubt, in God, would doom creation, 
Caused, upheld, by Faith Eternal." 



But no soul is saved by logic. 
Nor by eloquence, nor learning. 
None approach the Throne unbidden. 
None can come until Christ call him. 
None, until the Father draw him. 

Man, to eye and ear appealing. 
Can but voice the saving message. 
God alone the heart converteth, 
And His hand must "give the increase. 

His, likewise, the preparation; 
Till His plowshare turn the furrow. 
Till He maketh soft the hard ground, 
What avails the toil of sower 
Or the excellence of seeding? 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 65 

Her allegiance was to Science. 

So she deemed ; but doubt misled her — 

Doubt, whose other naime is darkness. 

Shallow-dredging criticism, 
Learning's false impersonator ; 
Intellectual nihilism. 
Faith-uprooting, hope-destroying, 
Theory for fact enthroning. 
Miracle as myth rejecting, 
Christ, as God, repudiating. 
And its own existence doubting ; 
Unknown god of pseudo-science, 
As the true God masquerading. 
This she bowed to, this she worshipt, 
Deifying human wisdom 
At the shrine of demonstration. 

What to her the high impressions 
Bom of humble, prayerful pleading — 
Intimations, premonitions, 
Symbolings, interpretations? 
"Vague, remote, poetic fancies!" 
"Idle, visionary notions!" 
"Figments of imagination." 
Such her cynical pronouncement. 

What recked she of dreams and visions, 

Revelation, inspiration. 

Gold and silver of the Gospel, 



66 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Heavenly riches, more than rubies? 
"Dross" when touch-stoned by her "science," 
And by lofty ( ?) criticism, 
Burrowing into doubt for knowledge, 
Delving in the dirt for wisdom ! 

Love and life in worlds aforetime? 
Life and love in worlds hereafter? 
True or untrue, either might be. 
Not for her these "vagrant fancies. 
Wandering from the realms of dreamland." 

"Practical" was she — "no dreamer," 
Skeptical to spirit teachings, 
Anchored in no sure conviction. 
"Nature, no vague supernature," 
"Real, not ideal," her dominion. 

Yet withal she loved the poets. 
Children of imagination. 
Weaving fancies for fact's welfare. 
Ideals for real's emulation. 

But at mention of the prophets. 
Lip would curl as in derision. 
Emphasized if angels, demons, 
Were the subject of the story. 

Then would scorn wreathe beauty's features, 
Like the Snake that entered Eden, 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 67 

Softening to a look of sorrow, 
As when infinite Compassion 
Wept o'er demons angel-vanquished, 
Fallen e'en from hope of heaven. 
Pitied she a soul "misguided", 
And "made blind by superstition". 

What more sad than disillusion? 
What more deathlike than indifference? 
Blight upon the flower of friendship, 
Killing love, if love were mortal. 

One hath found a precious jewel. 
Treasure-trove of purest knowledge. 
Gift from God, as all good gifts are. 
And with friend or feer would share it. 
Then to meet contempt, rejection. 
Where o'erfond anticipation 
Looked for grateful, glad acceptance, 
With enjo5mient full, congenial! 

What so sad as disillusion's 
Deep on deep of disappointment. 
Where one fails to find the treasure. 
Object of his earnest seeking — 
Fails to find by patient searching. 
What he hoped for, longed for, prayed for, 
In the heart of his adored one. 
In the soul he all but worshipt? 



68 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Loved the poets, scorned the prophets, 
Poets of the highest order. 
They who know the heart of all things, 
They who in the book of nature 
Scan one page of Supernature; 
They who ken the drift of science 
As the master kens the pupil. 
As the sun looks on the rivers. 
Streams inanimate or human. 
Hurrying to their common ocean. 

Prophets, mightiest of the poets, 
They to whom the Gods tell secrets, 
Doing naught till true revealings 
Have made wise their trusted servants,** 
Who in turn make wise the people ; 
Bringing past and future present 
For the betterment of all men. 
Earth for every change preparing 
On her pilgrimage to glory. 

Prophets, they who paint perfection 
In such hues that inspiration. 
Yoke-mating with strong endeavor 
And led on by high incentive, 
Dashing down or overleaping 
Every barrier to progression. 
Wins to vantage heights undreamed-of 
By dull dwellers in the lowland. 
Children of the mist who climb not 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 69 

To the clear unclouded summits, 
Thence to gaze, all things beholding ; 
Gropers in the gloom and shadow. 
Unto whom the vales are mountains, 
And the mountains less than valleys, 
Unto whom divine is human. 
And themselves the gods they worship. 

"Have you never thought," he reasoned. 
When, forgetful for the moment 
Of her deathless obligation 
To the art that nourished Shakespeare 
And gave wings for Milton's soaring. 
She had satirized the songster. 
Ridiculing flights of fancy. 
Making sport of signs and symbols. 
Tools such mighty craftsmen work with; 
"Have you never thought of poets. 
Of these Vague romantic dreamers', 
With their Visionary notions*, 
As the pioneers of progress 
E*en in practical achievement? 

"Had Columbus been no dreamer, 
Unpoetic, unprophetic. 
Would his soul have pointed westward 
Ere his prow impaled the sunset? 
Wanting faith, that findeth knowledge. 
Would his thought the world have girdled. 
Zoned with light a half-veiled planet. 



70 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Launching ideals on the ocean 
Ere his caravel left Palos?*^ 

"Would the Founders of our Nation 
Against tyranny have risen, 
Lexingtoned their path to freedom, 
Valley-Forged their way to glory. 
Had they never dreamed beforehand 
They were Victory's chosen children. 
Missioned for some mighty purpose 
By a Power the worlds overruling, 
Unto whom they pledged their ^fortunes*. 
Pledged their 'lives', their 'sacred honor', 
To make fact of what they fancied? 

"They were dreamers, beyond question. 

But such dreamers as are doers 

Of the deeds that make men tremble. 

Thrill with lofty admiration. 

In magnetic recognition 

Of heroic high endeavor; 

And the dreams they dream awaken ' 

And come true for man's uplifting. 

"Was it not Imagination 
Gave us Mozart's masterpieces. 
Glorious Wagner's grand creations. 
Harped unto their spirit hearing. 
Heard by them with inward rapture 
Ere an outward note was sounded?" 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 71 

"Plays — Euripides*^ or Shakespeare; 
Poems — Homer, Wordsworth, Browning; 
What are they but bare suggestions, 
Skeletons imagination 
Clothes with charm of endless beauty- 
First for thrilled, enraptured author, 
Then for reader or beholder? 
What is seen, the unseen hinting, 
Entrance, exit, s5mibolizing 
Birth and death, time's mystic portals. 
Heretofore, Hereafter, typing. 

"What else than Imagination 
Won for Phidias,*' for Raphael 
And for Angelo their triumphs? 
Miracles of brush and chisel, 
Marvels to all after ages? 

"Was it fact, or was it fancy 
Led to Gutenberg's invention,*^ 
Multiplying learning's treasures? — 
Fashioned Galileo's lenses,*^ 
Magnifying vision's powers? 

"What of Edison's and Morse's 
And Marconi's weird achievements ?^° 
What of motor-car and air-ship. 
Merest hints of unborn marvels. 
Swifter speedings, loftier soarings. 
That shall wonder-strike the future? 



72 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

"What of Darwin^^ and the dreamers 
Whom you reverence profoundly 
For their whole and half revealings 
In the mystic realms of research? 
Accoucheurs of infant knowledge, 
Embryotic truths and errors, 
Hooks whereon their rash disciples, 
Eager to o'erleap conclusion 
And surpass bewildered sages. 
Hang conjecture and surmising — 
Semi-facts — and name them ^science'. 
Shorter, shallower minds misleading. 

"What of Evolution's findings? 
Had it ne'er a fancy cherished. 
It had ne'er a fact uncovered. 

"Every art and every science, 
Was it not some dreamer's 'notion* 
Ere some later dreamer's magic 
Woke it into life and action. 
Fancy into fact transmuting? 

" 'Tis another name for Genius, 
This despised Imagination, 
This poetic, all prophetic 
Vision- viewer, wonder-worker ! 

"Sjmibols? They are keys to knowledge, 
Pointers unto light and learning. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 73 

Lesser leading on to greater, 
Up the stairway of suggestion — 
Plato's *scale',^^ progression's ladder, 
Round by round from earth ascending 
To the pinnacles of science. 
To the very Throne of Wisdom. 

"So that he who hath the fulness 
Of the poet's gift creative 
And his power interpretative 
May all mystery unravel. 
May all hidden sources fathom. 

"God hath built his world on symbols. 
That the wise might understand Him, 
And the fools be more confounded. 

"Earth a symbol is of Heaven, 

Creature typifies Creator, 

What is made proclaims the Maker." 

"All the universe one poem. 
One great parable of wisdom; 
And who reads what there is written, 
He is Poet — he is Prophet." 



Gladly to this point she heard him. 
Listened sympathetic, spellbound. 
E'en as raptured Desdemona^* 
To the Moor's romantic story ; 



74 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Almost loved him for his learning, 

And his eloquent recital 

Of the victories of science, 

And of art and valor's conquerings; 

All her thought-hues harmonizing, 

Mixt upon the mental canvas 

Of his masterful word painting. 

But alas ! she could no further — 
It was there communion ended, 
Though his argument continued: 

"Part of all earth owes the prophets 
Is a debt unto the poets, 
Prophets of a lesser calling. 
They who measure light and dole it 
In a delicate suggestion. 
Guarding 'gainst offense, oft given 
By the bold blunt proclamation. 

"God would lift the souls of all men 
From the slums of self and sinning, 
Adding glory upon glory. 
Until part becomes the perfect, 
And man's joy finds full fruition. 

"Yet what fulness but is measured 

By capacity's containing? 

Why came Socrates,^^ Confucius, 

Zoroaster and Gautama? 

Why not Christ alone? 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 75 

"Truth answers: 
Graded are the Master's teachings, 
Lest come wasteful overflowing, 
With a swifter condemnation 
For indifference or rejection. 
Milk, not meat, for infant palates. 
Spirit babes, though mental giants, 
Unprepared for strong nutrition. 
Ministered by agents mightier. 

"Teachers are as lamps and candles. 
Lit from Heaven in every corner 
Earth around where error darkens. 

"Unto ears that will not listen 
To the pleadings of the greater, 
Sent the lesser, supplementing 
Sharp command with soft persuasion. 
Philosophic exposition. 
Or poetic illustration; 
All instruction to continue 
Till each vessel brims to fulness. 

"Is the thought not worth your thinking. 

That these lesser and those greater^ — 

Yea, the good and wise of all men. 

With the part or with the fulness 

Of the Light, as Heaven willeth, 

Wittingly or all unknowing 

Have been working out one problem 



76 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Under a Divine O'erniling, 
Making ready for the coming 
Of the mighty consummation 
Of the Christ- Work universal, 
Down the ages thunder-marching? 

"Have you never thought of science 
As an aid to revelation, 
As a witness to religion. 
Going fore or following after. 
Way preparing, or confirming 
What God's oracles have spoken? — 
What the sacred bards and songsters, 
Prophet-poets, poet-prophets, 
Christ himself the chief among them. 
Have been sounding from the house-top, 
Through all times and generations. 
In the dull ears of all living?" 



She could follow him no further; 
For the lamp within, low burning. 
From the spray that doubt threw o'er it, 
Gave no more illumination 
For on-moving or up-soaring. 

Half the light in her was darkness. 

And the other half grew dimmer 

As she turned from Truth — God's candle. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 77 

Quick, at mention of the prophets, 
Played a smile of faint derision 
On her curving lips, half pouting 
With emotional revulsion. 

When projected was the Christ theme, 
And the glorious Second Coming, 
Not alone in world-wide triumph 
Of His error-conquering precepts — 
Modem preachment's weak concession — 
But by personal appearing, 
Bringing in the reign of Good Will; 
Lion of the tribe of Judah, 
On the throne of David sitting. 
Through a thousand years of splendor, 
Of Millennial peace and progress. 
Rolling on toward world-perfection; 
Then it was a frown, a shadow, 
Ominous of rising tempest. 
Gathered on her Grecian forehead, 
Half its classic beauty hiding. 

When extolled was revelation, 
And subordinated science 
To the teachings of religion. 
Glowed upon the milky whiteness 
Of her cheek a flush of crimson, 
Roseate rancor of resentment 
'Gainst a zeal iconoclastic. 
That would her fond idol shatter. 



78 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

"Strange so sapient, so sagacious, 
Bold and eloquent a champion 
Can so misdirect his powers, 
And his energies so squander, 
Wasting time and talent's treasure 
On these worse than worthless fables !'* 

Thus began, in mild arraignment, 
Scorn's phillipic, fiery, scathing. 

"Prophets ! What are they — those greybeards 

Who in ages past stood sponsor 

For the credulous, confiding. 

Simple, shallow-minded masses? 

Mediating for the people 

At the shrine of god or goddess — 

Isis,^^ Jupiter, Jehovah, 

Vishnu, Venus or Astarte ! 

What are they to modern thinking? 

Why should you and I revere them? 

Why one human hope lean on them? 

"Granted, in their generation. 
Ere came mind's emancipation 
From such bigotries and errors. 
They did serve some prudent purpose 
In the social evolution. 
That is past, the world advances. 
Why sleep on and dream forever? 
Comes there not a time for waking? 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 79 

"And this fetish, Revelation, 
That would lord it over Science, 
Leading out while Learning follows, 
Echoing its empty bleatings, 
Bolstering its wild proclaimings! 
What is it but man's opinion? — 
Vain assumption, void assertion. 
Declaration of some dotard. 
Or some calculating dervish. 
Droning prayers and howling curses. 
Calling cowards to repentance 
From their thoughts to his own thinking. 
From their ways to paths he walks in 
Or points out for their pursuing? 

"Phantom, idol, arch-pretender. 
Reverenced by dupes and victims. 
Giving fatness for his feeding. 
Bending to his base desiring. 
Lest he seal them to damnation! 

"Despot, arrogant, intolerant. 

Foe to knowledge, persecutor 

Of the scholars and the sages. 

Who have fought for truth and reason 

In the teeth of this fell tyrant ! 

"Gessler,^^ cap-a-pole, demanding 
All shall bow, or straight be smitten ! 



80 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Instantaneous surrender, 

Or the dungeons of perdition! 

"Know I one who'll not obey him, 
Come what may as consequences ! 

"This the time-old tragic story 

Of the holy priests and prophets. 

Popes and presbyters and bishops, 

'Whom you reverence profoundly' 

Spite of all their indirections. 

Crimes and follies without number: 

Free opinion persecuting. 

Sacred conscience crucifying. 

All dissension burning, butchering. 

In God's name their vile selves serving !' 

"Are you proud of their achievements? 
Do you joy to scan such pages? 

"I concede you some exceptions. 
This man Jesus whom you mention, 
If there ever came a prophet 
Sent from God, give him the title. 

"Noblest, best of beings human. 
Friend unto *the common people,' 
Friend to all men, high and lowly ; 
With magnetic, meek persuasion 
Drawing iron wills unto him; 
Frowning upon Mammon worship, 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 81 

Driving out the money changer, 
Pride and folly execrating, 
And with tongue of flame denouncing 
Prince's, priest's, or proletarian's 
Tyrannous misuse of power. 

"Would there might be other advents 
Of a Heart and Mind so needed! 

"If once more He came to save us — 

Not from death, the 'soul's' disaster, 

But from life, our way of living; 

From the social ills prevailing, 

And the weightier woes impending; 

From the temporal damnation 

Gorgon -like^^ upon us staring; 

From a class-and-mass collision 

That may shiver all to atoms; 

Would *His own' e'en now receive Him? 

Would e'en Christians make Christ welcome? 

"Could there be a second Coming, 
With no second Crucifixion? 
I confess my doubts, misgivings. 

"Count me yet His firm disciple; 
I that worshipt him as Saviour 
Still can honor him as Teacher, 
Master — ^but no supermortal. 



82 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

"Son of God by Virgin Mother? 
King awaiting Coronation? 
Pagan fancy! Christian fable! 
Antiquated, senile prattle, 
Only meet for ears of children ! 

"Walked He never on the water, 

Roused no Lazarus from death's slumber, 

Did no miracle, nor dying, 

Brought dead worlds to life by shedding 

Of his blood to ransom sinners. 

"Passed He from this stage of striving 
E'en as you and I must vanish ; 
Only times and methods vary — 
Avenues whereby we exit. 

"Prate no more of resurrection; 
Body dies — there is no spirit.^^ 
Look not for a future coming 
Of your Lord, as King of Glory. 
Science yet shall reign as sovereign, 
Knowledge, learning, be exalted; 
No usurping 'revelation,' 
No beguiled, beguiling 'prophet', 
No unrisen, dead 'Redeemer' !" 

Came no answer to this tirade. 
Save a look of speechless sorrow. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 83 

Horrified by her irreverence, 

By her bitterness of spirit, 

Her rejection of the prophets. 

Her denial of the Saviour, 

Heart-bowed, saddened, crushed and broken, 

From her presence he departed. 




VI 



DESPAIR 



PLAIN to him that all was over, 
That no common ground upheld them. 
That the gap between, once narrow, 
Insomuch that love overlooked it, 
Into an abyss had widened. 
All his happy hopes engulfing. 
And he wept above the ruin 
Of a soul to him so precious. 

She had parted with her birthright. 
Knowledge older than the ages. 
Legacy from ancient aeons 
To the present and the future. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 85 

Garnered wealth from worlds eternal, 
Riches that corrupt not, rust not — 
Wasteful of this spirit treasure, 
Prodigal of truth, preferring 
Empty husks and withered gleanings, 
To the fulness of the vineyard 
And the glory of the harvest ; 
Duped, ensnared, by power misleading, 
Truth and error, sun and shadow. 
Priesthood, priestcraft, all confounding; 
Hoping all from wisdom's worldlings. 
From the prudence that must perish 
In the presence of the Mighty 
And the Marvel and the Wonder; 
Shunning light of Heavenly Guidance, 
Following delusive blindness, 
'Twas the arm of flesh she leaned on. 
And the ancient curse had fallen.^*^ 

Had she erred beyond redemption? 
Few there be that wander thus far. 
One unpardonable sin God maketh; 
Man would fain decree a hundred. 
Heaven be praised, harsh human judgment 
Sitteth not upon the White Throne !' 
God be thanked, no other Gospel 
Is or can be than the Saviour's ! 

Height nor depth nor past nor future 
Severs us from Christ's affection. 



86 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

He who hateth sin, not sinner, 
Made repentance mean forgiveness; 
And when He forgives 'tis ended. 
Blotted from the book Remembrance. 

She had hoped all from man's wisdom, 
And the false hope had betrayed her, 
Led her into mental chaos. 
Cast her into spirit midnight. 

Swift the fatal downward plunging: 
Doubt — then darkness — then defiance! 
All her soul was in rebellion 
'Gainst the God who gave her being, 
'Gainst the faith her fathers cherished, 
'Gainst the Light that yet would save her ! 

Mourned he o'er the demolition 
Of a palace hope had builded 
In the Kingdom of the Future ; 
O'er the wreck, the dissolution 
Of a joy once deemed eternal. 

Falsified his fond conviction! — 
Faith and Unbelief, how mate them? 
Heaven had lied, or Hell had triumphed. 
How could Truth henceforth be trusted? 

Calvary! his crucifixion! 

Dashed to death the dream he cherished. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 87 

Grim despair his doom had spoken, 
And the leaden revelation 
Outweighed happiness and hoping. 

In that moment of dejection, 
When at ebb his powers resistant. 
Came the Serpent, wily tempter. 
Whispering in his ear this treason: 
"Wilt thou longer serve such Master?" 

Then the brave and true responded: 
"I will serve Him though he slay me. 
And henceforth for Him I battle." 

Sought he nevermore the Maiden, 
For her heart and hand a suitor. 
She it was who broke the silence 
Ere her presence he invaded. 

Meanwhile, what for him but absence? 
And — if it could be — oblivion? 



O'er the wide Land rang resounding, 
In far-flung reverberations. 
War's loud call, the brave enlisting 
In their country's cause and freedom's. 
Stern Atlantic, roused Pacific, 



88 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Angry Lake, indignant Gulf-shore, 
Heard the clear recruiting trumpet. 
Pleading for a Nation's honor 
And a down-trod Isle's redemption.^^ 

Heard the call for that enlistment, 
Pioneering's stalwart children, 
Wilderness-redeeming heroes, 
Veterans of a valiant struggle 
With the blind old Titan, Nature; 
Battling for the desert's blooming, 
Warring for a waste's deliverance 
From the dry and barren sceptre 
Of a worn-out dead dominion ; 
Heard the call for that enlistment. 
Rose responsive and came rallying. 

Strife and bloodshed deprecating. 
E'en for sunken "Maine's" avenging; 
Arbitration advocating 
For the peaceful, sane solution 
Of all vexing public problems; 
None more stalwart, more determined 
For a trampled realm's uplifting. 
Than the sons of Vale and Mountain, 
Basin land of lake and river. 
Residue from ocean's wandering,^^ 
Desert-bounded, rock-rimmed Eden, 
Rich in valor as in virtue — 
These, with liberty, her birthright. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 89 

Poured from out that bowl-like region, 

Loyal to the Land's uprising, 

Loyal to the flag of Freedom, 

To her cause and controversy. 

Floods of patriotic fervor, 

Lava-streams of retribution. 

Burning to wipe out the insult 

To the sovereign symbol offered. 

Of a justice-loving Nation, 

Rock cind shield of sacred conscience. 

Foe to wrong and foul oppression. 

On to Occident and Orient! 
On to treacherous Cuban waters! 
To the Santiago coast-line, 
And Luzon's beleaguered island. 
Where Manila's fiery laureP^ 
Made the Dewey name immortal ! 

Toward the Western war front speeding. 
With the vanguard of invasion. 
Sailed with me my poet comrade. 
In his veins the tide of valor 
Rolling as when patriot forbears 
Braved at Bunker Hill the British, 
Checked their haughty course at Concord, 
Smote the Hessian line at Trenton, 
Saw the peace-sun war clouds chasing 
O'er shot-torn and humbled Yorktown. 



90 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Out beyond the Golden Portal,^* 
Daylight exit, door of Sunset, 
From a glorious stage of empire. 
Mightier to be than hath been, 
Where the players shall be Titans, 
And the play the Dream of Ages;^^ 
Out upon the surging ocean, 
Fared the sons of Vale and Mountain, 
Fared the lethe-seeking Lover,^^ 
Armed for duty's lofty errand, 
Panoplied for martial daring, 
Reckless of resultant danger. 

As fond shadow, substance chasing. 
Thoughts of her stole ever on him. 
Memories he fain would banish. 
Sad though sweet, his spirit haunted. 
Sleeping, waking, they were with him- 
Seen her face and form in all things. 



Flew like birds the frequent missives 
From his pen to cheer her pathway; 
But from Maiden unto Lover, 
In those far-off alien Islands, 
Not one line o'erleapt the water. 

There could come but one conclusion 
From her strange, persistent silence, 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 91 

And it forced the sad conviction — 
E'en his friendship was distasteful. 
Equally with love unwelcome. 

Thus it fell "good bye" was spoken 
O'er the solemn, sobbing ocecin. 



Then be it so. Good night ! good-bye ! 

Fll trouble thee no more. 
For thou hast turned me from thy heart, 

A vagrant from the door. 

A beggar vainly asking leave 
His wealth of love to prove ; 

A beggar in his poverty, 
So poor without thy love. 

What have I done such doom to win? 

Justice ! thou art abused — 
Red-handed guilt hath right to know 

Whereof it stands accused. 

What have I failed to do that love 

Could possibly have done, 
Hampered as mine has been by fate, 

A cold and cruel one? 

I've poured my love, my life, my all. 
Like water at thy feet. 



92 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

And bade thee drain it every drop; 
My offering is complete. 

Good night ! and oh ! — a long good bye, 

Thou darling of my heart ! 
God knows it pains me past belief 

To feel that we must part. 

He asks, I make, the sacrifice. 
And bow to Heaven's high will. 

But I can never give thee up; 
I love thee — love thee still. 

And in God's great Eternity, 

If not in time before. 
When restitution's reign hath come, 

And chaos rules no more, 

I'll search till I have found my own ; 

For there shall be "no sea" 
To separate the married lands 

Or sunder you and me. 



Such the song his heart was sending 

From the deeps of its despairing. 

While he warred 'gainst deathless memory, 

Strove to banish recollection, 

Strove in vain to quench the spirit 

Of a love that spurned oblivion. 




VII 
ILLUMINATION 

MEANWHILE, in the distant City, 
Meretricious, tinseled Babel, 
Mammon's glittering bargain counter, 
Where were bought and sold men's honor, 
Women's modesty and virtue — 
Bought and sold in mart and mansion. 
Bought and sold in den and brothel; 
Siren city, beauteous, brazen. 
Vortex, whirlpool, brain-bewildering, 
Knave and fool alike engulfing; 
In that gaudy gilded setting, 
Unbedimmed by tawdry splendor. 
Sparkled still the priceless jewel 
Of an unstained, matchless Maiden. 



94 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Loyal to herself, though wandering 
Far afield from Shepherd folding ; 
Loyal still to virtue's ideals, 
Unbeguiled by false fair-showing. 
Hiding woe and wicked living 
As the rushing river hideth 
Quicksand and the sewer's giving. 

Bent to make of her the ladder 

For their sordid social climbing. 

Strove in vain ambitious kindred 

To wed mind to brainless folly, 

Honesty to insincereness, 

Wealth of soul to moral squalor, 

Poor as poverty through sinning. 

Though deemed rich by worldly reckoning. 

She would none of it; and ofttimes, 
In the midst of blare and blazon. 
Would she sigh for simple comforts 
Of her village home, environed 
By the meadows and the mountains. 
Where she first drew air, a mortal. 

There the men were manly, stalwart 
As the giant peaks uptowering; 
And the women pure, unsullied 
As the dew-drops on the clover; 
And the tuneful larks and robins. 
Improvising in the tree tops. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 95 

Trilled their flute-like obligatos, 
Poured their liquid orchestration 
In the ravished ear of Nature. 

There the human song was soulful, 
Vocal of the heart's true feeling, 
Rather than the calisthenic 
Coldness come of over-training — 
Technique's strenuous throat-striving 
To outdin an envied rival, 
Swollen flood of affectation 
Drowning all interpretation. 

In the sad and silent watches 
Of the night that bent above her. 
Sentry thoughts of soldier lover 
Hovered dreamlike round her pillow. 

And, betimes, his worth contrasting 
With the worthlessness around her. 
Paid she tribute admiration 
To his deathless, true devotion. 
Shown by long and patient pleading 
While in person he was near her. 
Shown by letters fond or friendly. 
As in him hope bloomed or faded. 
Rose or fell like winds and waters. 

Her distaste for empty pleasure, 
Her disgust at vice and folly. 



96 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

And perchance some reawakening 
Of the Christ-love in her spirit — 
Glinting of a gleam prospective 
On the ice-floe, sunward sailing — 
Bore as fruit her home-returning 
To the scenes that knew and loved her 
Ere she turned from cottage comfort 
Unto luxury palatied. 

Prayers for this had been ascending 
To the true God; and He hearkened. 

But the Tempter, came he also 
Ere her purpose bore fruition: 

"Would you sunder ties of friendship, 
And forego such rare advantage? 
Turn from culture and refinement 
Back to former crude conditions? 
Here is life, the world in action. 
Pleasure, progress, civilization; 
There, but dormant, dull stagnation 
And privation's painful toiling. 
Which of these demands your preference? 
Ccin you halt between opinions?" 

Then once more that smile derisive, 
Most befitting now and timely, 
As with scorn she met the scorner: 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 97 

"I have seen enough of 'friendship,' 
Based on such considerations 
As are paramountly precious 
'Mid these scenes of selfish striving. 
How much friendship worth the naming 
Would we find here — we from Westland, 
Were our pockets and our purses 
Empty as our useless lives are 
In this hippodrome of folly? 

" 'Progress !' Is there nothing better 
By that name than money-chasing, 
And the mad pursuit of pleasure? 
All for what, your idle sporting, 
Reckless speeding, drinking, gaming, 
Bubble-blowing, penny- tossing ? 
Out upon such hollow trifling! 
Wicked waste of time and treasure! 
I am surfeited and sickened. 

" 'Life', forsooth ! . *Tis dissipation. 
Luring down to swift destruction. 
'Tis a Moloch civilization,^^ 
Youth and beauty immolating ; 
Auction block of sordid slavery. 
Where you sell your sons and daughters, 
Bind them to the highest bidder, 
And misname the barter 'marriage.' 



98 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

"What inducement here to tarry — 
Here where palaces and hovels 
Multiply, and type conditions? 
Misery toiling, crowned with briars. 
That rich greed may grapple millions, 
Fortune upon fortune piling. 
Scheme on scheme for further profit! 

"Business, *big' with self importance, 
Haughty, heartless, triple-salaried. 
Pampered by appreciation; 
Literature and pedagogy. 
With all arts unloved by Mammon, 
Grudged and scanty wage receiving, 
Gaunt starvation's meager stipend ' 

"Highest gifts the lowest listed. 

Rated at mere market value; 

The material exalted 

Past the mental and the moral — 

And you call this ^progress', ^culture' !' 

"And the underpaid employee 

Of the overpaid employer, 

What for him or her the outcome? 

Look where desperation drives them 

By the hecatomb to ruin ! 

" 'Twas not so where I was nurtured. 
There all life had joy of living 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 99 

And of letting live, and helping ; 
Peace and comfort calm sufficings 
Of a people making heaven 
Of an earth by righteous promise 
And by faithful pure performing. 

"Wealth won fairly, wealth used wisely, 
Like all power is fraught with blessing — 
Blessing for the rich provider. 
Friend unto the working classes; 
Blessing for the sons of labor, 
Grateful to their benefactor ; 
They unto his interest loyal. 
He of all their rights regardful. 

"Wealth so wielded, who can censure? 
Praise unstinted be its portion; 
That it hath a mission noble. 
None save shallow minds will question. 

"But what meaner, baser passion 
Than idolatry of riches. 
And the worship of the camcil? 
Man, the monarch of creation, 
Groveling at creation's dust-heap! 
Fettered slave unto the senses. 
Prostrate at the feet of Mammon ! 

"Fraud's monopoly of plenty, 
Heaven-designed for wide dtttusion, 
That all men might be partakers 



100 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Of the great Creator's bounty; 
This it is that stirs resentment, 
Breeds dissension fierce and bitter, 
Gives the demagogue his power 
To mislead the toiling masses. 

"Here, where selfish, sordid scheming. 

Like some pirate craft of ocean, 

Sails the sea of speculation. 

Hunting down defenseless victims ! 

Here, where gambling finds its glory 

'Mid the loud unseemly scramble 

Of *the pit'®^ — oh proper typing ! 

Where, in wild unequal struggle, 

Men in manner like to demons, 

With their mad gesticulations 

And their frantic cries and shriekings. 

Symbolize the Pandemonium^® 

Told of in Miltonic story! 

Here, where shrewdness tricks its fellows. 

Sows and reaps unfair advantage. 

Strength imposing upon weakness, 

Vultures upon lambkins preying — 

What you deem success is failure, 

What you count for profit, loss is. 

And your Juggernaut^ ° of * Progress' 

Toward a precipice is plunging. 

"Anarchy, that worst of tyrants. 
Havoc-dealing fiend infernal. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 101 

Child and parent of oppression, 
Springeth up from such conditions. 

"Do I countenance disorder? 
Nay, I but condemn injustice. 
Would I turn from true refinement, 
From real culture? Never, never; 
But from vanity, delusion. 
Hypocritical pretension. 
Mirage of unreal existence. 
Marsh lights, luring to destruction. 
Mockeries! — these I fain would flee from. 
Since I want the strength to fight them. 

"Give me back the old conditions. 
Crude, perchance, yet sound, enduring, 
And susceptible of polish 
Genuine and far exceeding 
All this baneful glare and glitter ! 
Give me back my native mountains. 
Give me back my birthplace, people, 
And a peace, a calm contentment 
Such as I have ne'er known elsewhere ! 

"Eastland ! Mother of the Sages ! 

Be thy brightest now my model.'^^ 

* Good-bye', world — *proud world', I'm going 

Home to friendship and to Westland!" 



102 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Home at last, 'mid scenes she loved best, 
Grew her heart more kind, more gentle ; 
Standing where she first beheld him. 
Now he came not, how she missed him ! 
"Click!"— Was Cupid's lock a-tuming? 
Love hath sprung from lesser causes. 

"I will write him!" Resolution 
Scarce had budded to full blossom. 
When a strange and sudden illness 
Struck her down, and she lay prostrate 
Many weeks in pain's dominion. 
Many months a wraith, a shadow, 
Hovering on the brink immortal. 
Poising for the flight eternal. 

While the veil was thin between her 
And the Homeland of the Spirit, 
Came a vision or a dreaming. 
Reaching for her soul's conversion. 

In Gethsemane^^ she lingered. 
Witness of sublimest Sorrow, 
As He there besought the Father — 
Whose far gaze to end of all things, 
From beginnings all, extendeth — 
That the cruel cup might pass Him, 
Could it pass and death be lifted 
Elsewise unto life eternal. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 103 

Thrice the vision came before her, 
Thrice the Grief within the Garden, 
The uncrucified Redeemer's 
Agonized anticipation 
Of the Cross, with cruel insults, 
Scourgings and humiliations, 
Thorns upon the path to Calvary. 

Ay, and more, far more, deep hidden 
From the deepest ken of mortals — 
Martyrdom's profoundest mystery. 
Mystery worthy of the Martyr: 
God, Jehovah, Earth's Creator, 
Heaven's high Architect and Builder, 
Bending 'neath the awful burden 
Of a lost world's condemnation! 
His great pang all pains including,^^ 
His vast grief all anguish 'gulfing. 
Sorrows of all men, all women. 
Rills and rivers to His ocean! 

Sea of infinite atonement. 
And redemption universal. 
Unclean waters purifying. 
Living waters all o'er-showering ! 

Giving life to death, transfusing 
His own blood, lest all things perish. 
Perish evermore, far banished. 



104 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

In the flesh and in the spirit. 

From the presence of their Maker! 

This and more beheld the Maiden, 

On Divinity now gazing. 

Whose divineness she had questioned. 

"Not my will but thine, O Father!" 
Prayed the Son. 'Twas then she saw Him. 

As when Alma's pride^* was humbled 
By the Angel of the Highest, 
As when Thomas^ ^ saw the risen, 
Heard the glorified Redeemer — 
"Oh my God! my King! my Saviour!" 
And a flood of prayerful feeling 
From a contrite heart and broken. 
Bore upon its heaving bosom 
Unto Him her full devotion. 

Till her tears with His were mingled. 

In a deep, divine compassion. 

To her consciousness a stranger 

Since that earth-forgotten aeon 

When, with loyal hosts triumphant 

O'er embattled, haughty Treason, 

She had grieved e'en while she gladdened, 

And had wept o'er spirits fallen. 

Ne'er had soared imagination 
To a dream of aught so tender 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 105 

As the reverence now awakened 
From a long death-seeming slumber. 

Hers likewise the rich renewal 
Of a gift in childhood given^ — 
Gift from God, heights, depths, revealing. 

Mystery unmasked before her. 
All her soul's desire unveiling, 
And she viewed with cloudless vision 
What her spirit eyes, long blinded 
By the mists that shroud the mortal. 
Had not seen till that clear moment. 

What to her the flickering candle 
Of a dim-eyed human learning? 
What to her the lamp of science. 
Though it blaze with demonstration. 
Proving past all controversy 
To the plodding human reason, 
Truth of poet-inspiration. 
Truth of prophet-revelation, 
Truth of truth, where'er 'twas spoken? 

Gazed she on the Sun of Science, 

On the Daylight of All- Knowledge ; 

Saw Truth's face, quaffed Wisdom's fountain, 

Quenching spirit thirst forever. 

Gazed she on the Universal, 
Saw Intelligence, God's glory. 



106 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Mind and matter, self existent 
Soul materials, molding, forming, 
Systems, suns and stars ordaining, 
Planets peopling and redeeming, 
All outleading, all uplifting. 
Organizing and directing, 
Guiding energy eternal. 

Saw the Sovereign Everlasting, 
Bent to share his shining sceptre. 
Empire of the worlds unworldly ; 
Allwise Parent and Preceptor 
Sending forth his spirit children. 
Sight-trained in the schools primeval. 
Here faith's mightier test^^ confronting; 
Donning nature's garb and gowning 
For the treasures of earth knowledge 
And the touch of mortal training. 
Hence to rise by graduation 
From the classroom intermedial 
To the College of the Spirit 
And the Temple of All-Wisdom. 

Saw pure Aspiration seeking 
Heavenly light through human darkness. 
Gain of power by world experience. 
Wisdom's apple, sweet and bitter. 

Saw the truest and the worthiest — 
Winnowed grain, the wind-blown refuse 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 107 

Lost in Lucifer's down-whirling — 
Spirits loyal, Michaers legion, 
Changed to souls by Eden's action, 
Down to lowly deeps descending. 
Downward, forward, onward falling;" 
Prelude to progression's marching. 
Prologue of redemption's drama. 

Then life's pledge released from pawning, 
Ransomed by the Christ of Calvary, 
Shepherd of the sheep Him following 
From the glooms of sin and sorrow 
To the Light and Life Eternal! 

Earth beheld — prophetic vision — 
Earth redeemed from dole and darkness. 
Every thorn and briar blossoming, 
Glorified, a heaven becoming,^^ 
Home of man and goal of gladness 
Unto myriads coming after. 

Man, God's symbol and foreshadowing, 
Image, likeness, male and female. 
Heir unto the Power Creative, 
To that Perfect Stature'" climbing. 
Dowered with divine outreaching. 
Halting not from holiest, loftiest 
Aspiration and achievement. 

Heard a Voice from Heaven, proclaiming: 
"What is this? Hold up the mirror! 



108 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Is it not thyself, Creation? 
Is it not ALL — Education?" 



"Take me with you!" Supplication 
Made she of the World-Redeemer, 
In humility low kneeling 
At the feet once pierced and bleeding. 

"Take me with you. Lord and Saviour ! 
All my pride and weakness pardon; 
Let me in Thy service linger, 
Though in lowliest place and station. 
Going wheresoe'er Thou goest. 
Biding wheresoe'er Thou bidest. 
Thy dear presence be my portion. 
And Thy will my will forever ! 
God !' forgive me, lift me, save me !" 

Then the Master mild and gentle, 
To this one of many teachers 
Having need of wiser training 
Than the wisest world instruction ; 
Thus the Gracious, the Forgiving, 
To a penitent, returning: 

"Thou shalt be with Me, my daughter ! 
Evermore with Me, my sister ! 
Glorious in our Father's Kingdom, 
Reigning 'mid the heirs celestial. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 109 

Righteous souls who all inherit 
Through the fulness of obedience 
To the highest Throne in Heaven. 

*'Yet alone thou canst not enter 

To that sacred Sovereign Presence; 

Gods and angels guard the gateway,^^ 

Turning back all imperfection. 

With thy mate, thou mayest pass them; 

But without him, never — never!" 



War was done, and Peace sat brooding 
O'er a realm redeemed from darkness. 
Darkness of oppression's sceptre, 
Shadow of ingrate rebellion,^^ 
When my comrade, homeward sailing. 
Scarred with battle's badge of honors — 
Wounds that won him swift promotion- 
On his native shore descended. 

Mustered out by Honor's edict 
From the roll-call of her legions; 
Shielded from the torrid sun-ray 
By the Land's triumphal archings. 
Sped we on from coast to mountain, 
Hearing far the loud acclaimings. 
Trumpet ringings, cannon roarings, 
From our country's bosom rising: 



110 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Crown the conquerors homeward coming, 
Glorious from freedom's fight, 

Vanquishers of vile oppression, 
Champions of a Nation's right! 

Guardians of a great State's honor. 
Long by slanderous tongues assailed. 

Dare they brand her as disloyal 

Whose brave sons have thus prevailed? 

Hear their dreadful batteries roaring. 
Hear their shouts above the storm, 

Where in vain the flying foeman 
Seeks his shattered ranks to form ! 

Shouts that quell the shrieking tempest, 
Drown the thunder of the sea. 

None but staunch and stalwart freemen 
Launch such blows for liberty. 

Backward hurled the hostile legions. 
Battered down their bristling towers. 

Routed fierce rebellion's rabble. 

Freed the land from tyrant powers. 

Welcome, warriors homeward wending ! 

Welcome from the fiery fray. 
Speed ye o'er the trackless ocean. 

Speed ye on the iron way. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 111 

Welcome, all who fought for Freedom, 
Fought or followed where she led! 

Homeland honors all her heroes, 
Heroes living, heroes dead. 

Greet them with the song of gladness. 
Crown them with immortal bays. 

With a Nation's benediction. 
And a grateful people's praise ! 



But what victory can brighten 
Or what laurel wreath can lighten 
Leaden-hearted Melancholy, 
Loving on, though love be hopeless? 

Rumors of her death had reached him. 

And the world for him was empty. 

In despair and desolation. 

Where the gravelike gloom hung deepest, 

Hope and Love alike seemed buried-— 

Memory the one sad mourner. 



But a cry went forth at midnight: 
"He is risen \ He is risen ! 
E'en the Lord of love and pity, 
Conqueror of death and darkness. 
Glorious on the heights of Heaven, 



112 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Throned amid eternal burnings, 
Dead and living, own your Saviour, 
And because He lives, live also!" 

Such the cry that cleft the midnight, 
Till it melted into morning. 
Till the lily wreath grew radiant 
On the brow of Easter Dawning.^^ 

And the God of grace and glory. 

He who died and rose for mortals. 

Heard the plaintive prayer and pleading, 

Heard the piteous importuning 

Of a soul to Him appealing 

For the boon of life's renewal, 

And for love, life's crowning solace. 

And the Angel of the Presence 
Rolled away the rocky barrier, 
Banished far the fearful shadow, 
Brought to life the power of loving 
In a dead heart, newly risen. 

And the Sun of Love, upsoaring 
High above the brightening hill-tops, 
Touched to gold the pearly dawning. 
Tinged with rosy w^armth the glacier, 
Bade it flow in ceaseless bounty. 
Crowned with joy the tearful summits, 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 113 

Lit the gloomy gulf of sorrow, 

Made the mountains shout for gladness, 

And the valleys ring with rapture. 

Resurrection, restoration. 
Turned Gethsemane to Glory; 
And the happy Earth seemed Heaven 
When at last the truth was told him, 
When he knew she lived and loved him. 
When, a gift from God, he claimed her 
That great day the world was gladdened 
By a Light that shineth alway. 

Summoned to her dying presence — 
Dying? Nay, for death was driven; 
Kith and kindred late relenting. 
To their union now consenting, 
Willing there should come that welding 
'Neath the sacred seal and promise,^^ 
Gathered he unto his bosom 
Her loved form, all worn and wasted. 
Heard her lips make full confession 
Of the faith he long had cherished. 
Heard her say, "I love you — love you," 
As she gave the pledge eternal. 
Sealed her vow with kisses tender, 
Earnest of undying rapture 
In a land unknown to sorrow. 
Where no fate can ever part them. 



114 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Light and Love gave life new living, 
Health and happiness restoring. 



Halcyon days sped on thereafter, 
Days of bliss and years of blessing. 
Sweeter for the tasted bitter. 
Crowning sacrifice and sorrow. 

Then — a voluntary parting. 

Sad though willing separation. 

At the high behest of Duty, 

From her watchtower worldward calling. 

Ocean billows rolled between them; 
But their hearts had no dividing. 
And their love-moon knew no waning. 



Letters — faded, tear-stained letters, 
Ashes of fond recollection ! 
Reverently I stir the embers 
Of a fire within you smoldering. 
Till the glow becomes a glory, 
And the dead past leaps relumined: 

"Where are you tonight, my Lover? 
Tear-wet is my lonely pillow. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 115 

Yet I could not wish you nearer, 
Duty's post, God's work abandoned, 
Husband of my heart, my hero 
In the forefront of the battle 
Between hosts of light and darkness, 
Between truth and error waging ! 
Champion of faith's cause and freedom's! 
Trusted servant of the Sovereign!' 

"Seems it strange from me, such diction? 
I who scoffed at things held sacred, 
I who doubted the Divine One, 
And denied His mediation — 
Is it I who now extol Him? 

"How my wisdom turned to folly, 
When His light revealed my darkness! 
Oh, the change, the transformation! 
Will it ever grow familiar? 
Shall I wake and find it dreaming? 
Rather let me dream forever. 

"Why so slow was I to hearken 
To the clear call of the Shepherd? 
When I doubted His divineness. 
Did I in my heart renounce Him? 
Tell me — tell me, if thou knowest; 
For this haunting fear still saddens. 

"No less strange my laggard turning 
Unto love and thee, my dear one. 



116 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

How could I be blind to either? — 
Blind to love, the life of living ; 
Blind to thee, the brightest planet 
In the heaven of my existence? 

"Ask me no more, am I yours, Dear. 

Every fiber, every breathing 

Of my being your possession. 

Love you? Ay, with all the sweetness 

Those sweet words like bees have garnered 

Since Eve's use of them made Eden." 

Crossing sea and climbing mountain, 

Came reply to one in Westland, 

Her grave questions echoing, answering : 

" 'Why so slow' were you 'to hearken' 
To the summons of the Shepherd? 

"The deep wherefore, who can fathom, 
Of wise Mystery's withholding? 
We but guess when God is silent ; 
Yet it follows not our guessing 
Into error strays at all times. 
Thought, inspired, is revelation. 
Though no syllable be spoken. 

" 'Better late than never', always; 
But that tells not half the story. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 117 

Better late than early ofttimes 
Shines the light of good example. 

"Why postponed was Saul's conversion*** — 

Saul, the sometime persecutor 

Of the Saints, those hated * Christians' ? 

Why so tardy his acceptance 

Of Messiah and the Gospel? 

"Was it not for some sage reason — 
Not in him, but in the Prompter 
Of the great play there presented? 
He but loitered unobedient 
Till his hour had struck for action, 
When, the cue for entrance given. 
Forth he strode in might of purpose 
And in marvel of achievement. 

"Had he entered prematurely 

On the scene of his vast triumph, 

Marred had been the wondrous drama, 

Or the role by him enacted. 

Seemed it late,^^ but spite of seeming. 

It was neither late nor early. 

"His revolt 'gainst Light down-stricken 
By a blinding bolt from Heaven — 
Blinding, yet illuminating — 
Mark the zeal forever burning 
In the breast of this evangel. 



118 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

This untiring truth-proclaimer, 
Not one whit behind^^ the chiefest 
Of his apostolic fellows ! 

"Why, amid the busiest reapings 

Of the ripe Meridian harvest 

Were his sheaves the most abundant?*^ 

"Was it not, in part, that Memory, 
Mindful of past misdemeanors. 
Swung the lash that drove him onward? 
All the mightier strove this champion. 
Pricked by thorny recollection. 
Spurred on by the goad of conscience, 
Eager to make reparation 
For the evil done aforetime. 

"And the marvel of his turning 

To the Truth he once had trampled, 

Made his act the more appealing. 

His recoil the more convincing. 

And the trenchant testimony 

Of his pen and tongue more searching. 

"Note the patience all enduring. 

And the charity unfailing. 

Of this living-dying martyr! 

Faith, Hope, Love^^ — ^by Him exalted — 

Were not these the rarest jewels 

Li the crown^^ his brow awaiting — 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 119 

Jewels brighter for their grinding 
On the stones of hard experience? 

"Paul paid every debt to justice, 
When discounted 'twas by mercy, 
In the coin of tribulation 
And persistent high endeavor. 
Hence, in death discerned no terror,^° 
Fearing not the final outcome. 
Martyrdom meant liquidation — 
'Twas the debtor's final payment. 

"Haply, too, some earlier merit — 
Deed of valor's ancient doing — 
Some achievement in the spirit — 
Plead for him at that tribunal 
Where, in book of righteous reckoning, 
Debits, credits, all are counted. 
Claims unknown to man included. 
That the balance may be perfect. 

"God, not man, must speak *the last word.' 
He who kens the secret causes, 
Hidden springs of human action — 
His alone to sit in judgment 
On the conduct of His creatures. 

"But the least may launch opinion 
On the ocean of conjecture. 



120 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

And I send you, for your solace, 
For your comfort, my conviction: 

"Ne'er did you deny the Saviour; 
None deny Him till they know Him. 
Ponder this, and grieve no longer. 

"Peter's thrice repudiation, 
Was it such in truth or seeming? 
Did this man renounce the Master, 
In disclaiming knowledge^^ of him? 

"Penitent and all-forgiven, 

He, the erstwhile timid trembler 

Went to death for Him head downward,®^ 

Craving that humiliation. 

Begging it, a boon, a favor. 

"Such the change, from dwarf to giant. 
When the strength from Christ came on him, 
And a perfect testimony 
Of the Saviourship was given. 

"Called and chosen Chief Apostle, 
Kept he then the key to Heaven: 
Could this be, had his denial 
Ranked with real renunciation? 

"Not alone stand Paul and Peter; 
Others the same path have trodden. 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 121 

All is well with them forever. 

Then why not with thee, my Loved One ?** 



Came anon his home-returning, 
And once more a fond reunion. 

But recall from foreign service 
Meant, of service, no cessation. 
Loyalty and zeal continued. 
And with faithfulness unflagging 
Side by side they strewed and gathered 
Through their mortal years remaining. 

Till the final call, "Come higher"; 
When her soul — then his — responded. 



They are gone — and I yet linger. 
Linger still to tell the story 
Of the Maiden and the Lover; 
Linger here the hopeful guardian 
Of a trust, a human treasure. 
By his care to mine committed — 
Daughter, image of the mother. 
Who, as forth she came, departed; 
Each the other's void thus filling, 
One on Earth and one in Heaven. 



122 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 

Gracious Master of the Vineyard,^^ 
Where the spirits of all living, 
From thy Paradise transplanted, 
Nurtured are, till wisdom springeth 
As a bud from joy and sorrow ! 
For the sake of Him who saved us. 
Help me rear this tender flower ! 

Shield, O Lord, this little Maiden 
From all error and all evil ! 
Charge thine angels with her welfare, 
That they hold her in their keeping. 
Watchful vigilance maintaining. 
Till in goodness as in beauty 
She shall blossom to perfection. 
Likeness of her sainted mother. 
Type of her heroic father. 
Seeing in the Christ her Saviour, 
Honoring His seers and prophets, 
Ever in His Love abiding. 
Never from His Light departing. 




NOTES 



1. Hypatia (page 4). The beautiful and scholarly he- 
roine of Kingsley's historical novel of that name. Hypa- 
tia figured at Alexandria early in the fifth century, teach- 
ing a school of philosophy (Neo-Platonic) and endeavor- 
ing- to restore Paganism. She fell a victim to mob vio- 
lence at the hands of the Christians, A. D. 415. 

2. Pilgrrims (p. 5) The Pilgrim Fathers, who fled for 
religious freedom from England to Holland, and finally 
sailed for America on "The Mayflower", landing at Plym- 
outh Rock, Massachusetts, in December, 1620. 

3. Westland (p. 5). The region lying west of the 
Rocky Mountains. 

4. Mater Harvard (p. 5). Harvard College, Univer- 
sity of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

5. Aristotle (p. 6). Greek philosopher, pupil of Plato 
and teacher to Alexander the Great. 

6. Gamaliel (p. 6). Preceptor of Saul of Tarsus, who 
became Paul the Apostle. 

7. Stem Heigrlits (p. 6). The Rocky Mountains. 

8. Placid Ocean (p. 6). The Pacific. 

9. Hellenic (p, 7). Grecian, from Hellas, the ancient 
name of Greece. 

10. Parian Marble (p. 7). A superior quality of mar- 
ble, found on the island of Paros, in the Grecian archi- 
pelago. 

11. Juno (p. 7). In classic mythology, the wife of 
Jupiter, king of Heaven. 

12. David, Jonathan (p. 10). The pure, unselfish friend- 
ship existing between these Israelitish heroes is one of 
the most beautiful episodes in Bible history (I Samuel 
18-20, and H Samuel 1). 

13. Eastland (p. 14). Eastern States, or the region 
eastward from the Rocky Mountains. 

14. Veiled Prophet of Khorassan (p. 14). Al Mokanna, 
an imposter of the eighth century, in Khorasan, a Per- 
sian province. Moore's poem "Lallah Rookh" represents 
him as wearing a veil to conceal a hideous facial deform- 
ity. 

15. Q,ueen of Sheba (p. 14). An account of the visit of 
Sheba's Queen to King Solomon is contained in the Tenth 
Chapter of First Kings and in the Ninth of Second Chron- 

16.* With Blindness (p. 15). The allusion is to Saul of 
Tarsus, temporarily stricken blind while persecuting the 
Christians, to whose faith he became a convert. 

17. Arab Virtue (p. 15). Even the Bedouin robbers 
(Arabs, many of them descended from Ishmael, son of 



124 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 



Abraham) hospitably entertain in their tents, those whom 
they would rob and even kill out on the desert. 

18. Monocle (p. 16). An eye-glass for one eye, the use 
of which by some people seems more for show than util- 
ity. 

19. Baal and Da^on (p. 19). Baal, the sun-god, was a 
deity of the Moabites and Midianites. Dagon, half man 
and half fish, was an idol of the Philistines. Both are 
repeatedly mentioned in the Old Testament. 

20. Alma Mater (p. 21). A Latin term meaning "fos- 
tering mother", applied to the college or other institution 
of learning where one has received his education. 

21. Prometliean (p. 23). From Prometheus, a fa- 
bled demigod who was credited with bringing fire from 
Heaven for the benefit of man. 

22. Helen's Higli Crest (p. 26). Helen and Shasta are 
mountains on the Pacific Coast, 

23. A Reverent Irreverence (p. 31). Certain "Chris- 
tians" deny Christ's divinity, deeming him only a good and 
wise teacher. 

24. The Modem Proiiliet (p. 32), Joseph Smith, founder 
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

25. Eros (p. 33). In Greek mythology, the god of love, 
corresponding to the Roman Amor or Cupid. 

26. Titans (p. 34). The Titans, twelve in number, were 
mythological giants, incarnations of natural forces. By 
extension, a Titan is one possessing gigantic strength. 

27. Mountain Spine (p. 36). The Rocky Mountain Di- 
vide, or "backbone of the continent." 

28. Hebe (p. 36). Hebe, cup-bearer of Zeus (Jupiter) 
on Mount Olympus, until succeeded by Ganymede (Gany- 
medes). 

29. Ancient Forest (p. 37). The Petrified Forest of 
Arizona, here contrasted with the wood described by 
Dante in the opening lines of "The Divine Comedy". 

30. A Great Gulf Opened (p. 38). At this point begins 
a description of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, in 
Arizona; a natural object woven, like the Petrified Forest, 
into the symbolism of the poem. 

31. Satum-Moutli (p. 38). Saturn was a Roman god, 
corresponding to, or confounded with, the Greek Kronos, 
who devoured his own offspring. 

32. Deeps of SUeol (p. 38). Sheol is Hebrew, Perdition 
English, and Hades Greek, for Hell. 

33. That Joseph (p. 41). The group of lines in which 
this phrase occurs epitomizes the career of Joseph in 
Egypt (Genesis 37-50). 

34. Mekka (p. 42). A sacred city of the Mohammedans, 
birthplace of their prophet, Mahomet, and a goal for pious 
pilgrimages. 

35. Colossus (p. 45). A gigantic statue of Apollo, set 
up on the shore of the harbor at Rhodes (280 B. C), and 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 125 



subsequently reputed as bestriding the entrance to the 
harbor. 

36. BabePs Millions (p. 46). Babel, sig-nifying- confu- 
sion of tongues (Gen. 11:1-9), has become a synonym for 
any great modern city having a population of various 
nationalities. 

37. Mammon's Cliariot (p. 47). Mammon, the Syrian 
god of riches and worldliness. 

38. Marengo (p. 52). A battle-ground in Italy, where 
Napoleon, after crossing the Alps, defeated the Austrians 
under General Melas, June 14, 1800, "There shall be no 
Alps", exclaimed the indomitable Corsican, when those 
mountains, snow-covered and all but impassable, were 
mentioned as an obstacle to his march. At Marengo the 
Austrians were , at first sucessful, but the arrival of 
Desaix, one of Napoleon's generals, with reinforcements, 
turned the tide in favor of the French. 

39. Servant Lot (p. 55). According to Joseph Smith, 
the saved but unwedded will be servants or ministering 
angels to those united in eternal wedlock and inheriting 
celestial glory (Doctrine and Covenants 132:16-19). 

40. Upas Vapor (p. 60). The Upas tree, originally 
from Java, was once supposed to be poisonous, its exhala- 
tions fatal to both animal and vegetable life. But this 
supposition is now known to be false, specimens of the 
tree having been cultivated in British hot-houses and 
botanic gardens, with no ill-effects. The "Upas tree" 
phrase has often been used as a figure to denote some- 
thing morally pernicious. 

41. A Principle of Power (p. 61). See Lectures on 
Faith, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Eleventh Chapter 
of Hebrews. 

42. Apollo and Minerva (p. 62). Apollo, god of music, 
song and prophecy; and Minerva, goddess of wisdom, were 
among the most eminent and most amiable of Greek and 
Roman deities. Olympus, where they were supposed to 
dwell, is a mountain range in Thessaly. 

43. Every Blessing: (p. 64). "When we obtain any 
blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon 
which it is predicated" (D. & C. 130:21). 

44. Trusted Servants (p. 68). "Surely the Lord God will 
do nothing but He revealeth his secret unto his servants 
the prophets" (Amos 3:7). 

45. Palos (p. 70). The Spanish port from which Co- 
lumbus, in August, 1492, sailed upon his great voyage of 
discovery. His fleet consisted of three small vessels 

46. Euripides (p. 71). A Greek tragic poet (480-406 
B. C.) 

47. Pliidias, Raphael, Angelo (p. 71). Phidias, a Greek 
architect and sculptor; Raphael and Michael Angelo, Ital- 
ian painters; the latter also an architect. 

48. Gutenberg's Invention (p, 71). The art of printing 



126 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 



with movable types, adopted by Gutenberg-, a German 
printer, in the fifteenth century. 

49. Galileo's Lenses (p, 71). The astronomical tele- 
scope, invented by Galileo the Italian. 

50. Weird Aeliievements (p. 71). Inventions of Thomas 
A, Edison, Samuel F. B. Morse and Guglielmo Marconi; 
the first two in electricity, the last in wireless tel- 
egraphy. 

51. Darwin (p. 72). Charles Robert Darwin, author 
of the theory of Organic Evolution by Natural Selection, 
commonly called "The Darwinian Theory." 

52. Plato's Scale (p. 73). "All things are in a scale; 
and, begin where we will, ascend and ascend. All things 
are symbolical; and what we call results are beiginnings." 
— ^Plato, quoted by Emerson, "Representative Men", p. 71. 

53. Proclaims tlie Maker (p. 73). "All things have 
their likeness * * * ^^d are created and made to bear 
record of m^e" (Pearl of Great Price, Moses 6:63). 

54. Desdemona (p. 73). The heroine of Shakespeare's 
tragedy, "Othello". 

55. Socrates, Confucius, Zoroaster, Gautama (p. 74). 
Greek, Chinese, Persian and Hindu sages, respectively. 

56. Isis, Venus, Vishnu, Astarte (p. 78). National 
deities — Isis of the Egyptians, Venus of the Greeks and 
Romans, Vishnu of the Hindus, and Astarte of the Syro- 
Phenicians. 

57. Gessler (p. 79). The legendary lore of Switzerland, 
while that country was under the Austrian yoke, relates 
how the governor, Herman Gessler, had his cap placed on 
a pole in the market place and commanded every passer- 
by to salute it. William Tell refused, and as a punish- 
ment was ordered to shoot an apple off his son's head. He 
succeeded, thanks to his skill in archery, but afterwards 
killed the tyrant who had subjected that skill to so cruel 
a test. 

58. Gorgon (p. 81). A fabled female monster, fright- 
ful to look upon. Medusa, the most famous of the Gor- 
gons, had hair of serpents, and her gaze turned the be- 
holder into stone. 

59. There is No Spirit (p. 82). To this "lame and im- 
potent conclusion," a Utah educator is said to have come 
as the result of his devotion to "Higher Criticism" and so- 
called "Science." 

60. Curse Had Fallen (p. 85). "Cursed be the man 
that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and 
whose heart departeth from the Lord" (Jeremiah 17:5). 

61. Isle's Redemption (p. 88). The war between the 
United States and Spain was to free Cuba from Spanish 
misrule. The conflict was precipitated by the blowing up 
of the United States warship "Maine", in Havana harbor, 
February 15, 1898. 

62. Ocean's Wandering (p. 88). The Great Salt Lake 
is the residue of a much larger body of water, the ancient 



AN IDYL OF THE WESTLAND 127 



basin of which, with its fossil relics, is known as Lake 
Bonneville, so named for an early explorer. 

63. Manila's Fiery Laurel (p. 89). In Manila Bay, Isl- 
and of Luzon, one of the Philippines ,May 1st. 1898, Com- 
modore Dewey attacked and destroyed the Spanish fleet 
and silenced the shore batteries. In this famous battle 
not one American life was lost. 

64. Golden Portal (p. 90). The Golden Gate, entrance 
to the harbor of San Francisco. 

65. Dream of Ages (p. 90). An allusion to the g-lor- 
ious future of America, Land of Zion, the place of the 
New Jerusalem, to be reared before the second coming of 
the Saviour. 

66. Lietlie-seeking Liover (p. 90). Lethe, a fabled river, 
drinking of the waters of which caused forgetfulness. 

67. Molocli Civilization (p. 97). Moloch was a Pheni- 
cian god, whose worship embraced human sacrifice. 

68. The Pit (p. 100). A reference to the Stock Ex- 
change. 

69. Pandemonium (p. 100). The Infernal regions: any 
place or gathering remarkable for disorder and uproar. 

70. Juggernaut (p. 100). A Hindu idol, carried on fes- 
tival days in a great car, before which the devotees of 
the god are said to have thrown themselves, that they 
might be crushed under the ponderous wheels, thus mak- 
ing their lives an offering to this deity. 

71. My Model (p. 101). An allusion to Ralph "Waldo 
Emerson, American philosopher and poet, author of the 
verses, "Good-bye, Proud World". 

72. Getlisemane (p. 102). The Garden in which the 
Saviour prayed just prior to his crucifixion. 

73. AU Pains Including (p. 103). That He might make 
an infinite atonement and thus place salvation within the 
reach of all, our Saviour, in his martyrdom, suffered the 
pangs of every member of the human family (Book of 
Mormon, II Nephi 9:21,22). 

74. Alma's Pride (p. 104). Another Book of Mormon 
allusion (Mosiah 27:11-24). 

75. As When Thomas (p. 104). See St. John 20:24-29, 
for an account of the risen Saviour's appearance to 
Thomas, the Apostle. 

76. Faith's Mightier Test (p. 106). Man in his first 
or spirit estate "walked by sight". In his second estate, 
the mortal probation, he is required to "walk by faith" 
(II Corinthians 5:7), believing without seeing. 

77. Onward Falling (p. 107). "Adam fell that men 
might be" (II Nephi 2:25). The fall, therefore, had a 
two-fold direction — downward yet forward, and was pre- 
liminary to the upward march of eternal progress. 

78. Heaven Becoming (p. 107). Earth is to become a 
heaven, an eternal abode for the righteous. 

79. Perfect Stature (p. 107). The full stature of God- 
liness, attainable by men and women as the offspring of 



128 LOVE AND THE LIGHT 



Deity. "God himself is an exalted Man." — Joseph Smith. 

80. Guard the Gateway (p. 109). See Doctrine and 
Covenants, 132:18-19. 

81. In^rate Rebellion (p. 109). The deliverance of the 
Philippine Islands from Spanish rule was followed by the 
rebellion of the Filipinos against the Americans, their 
deliverers, who succeeded in quelling the insurrection and 
restoring order, 

82. faster Dawning: (p. 112). Easter, observed 
throughout Christendom as the day on which the Saviour 
rose from the dead. 

83. Seal and Promise (p. 113). Eternal marriage, 
"made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of 
Promise" (D. & C. 132:7). 

84. Saul's Conversion (p. 117). Saul's conversion to 
the Christian faith is narrated in the Ninth Chapter of 
Acts. 

85. Seemed it Late (p. 117). "One born out of due 
time" (I Cor. 15:8). 

86. Not One Wliit Behind (p. 118). "I was not one 
whit behind the very chief est apostles" (II Cor. 11:5 and 
12:11). 

87. Most Abundant (p. 118). "I labored more abund- 
antly than they all" (I Cor. 15:10). 

88. Faith, Hope, Love (p. 118). "And now abideth 
faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these 
is charity" (I Cor. 13:13). Charity is the pure love of 
God; Paul extols it even above hope and faith. 

89. The Crown (p. 118). "Henceforth there is laid up 
for me a crown of righteousness" (II Timothy 4:8). 

90. No Terror (p. 119). "O death, where is thy sting? 
O grave, where is thy victory" (I Cor. 15:55). 

91. Disclaiming Knowledgie (p. 120). Peter, through 
timidity, denied that he knew Jesus, for whose death the' 
Jewish mob was clamoring. But he did not repudiate 
Him as the Saviour. To disclaim acquaintance with a 
man is one thing; to deny that he is a man is quite an- 
other. "What Peter said and did on that occasion is told 
in Matthew 26:69-75. 

92. Head Downward (p. 120). Peter, the chief Apostle, 
after being "endued with power from on high" (Luke 24: 
49; Acts 2:1-4) became a stalwart champion of the Christ, 
and endured faithful to the end. It is traditional that when 
about to be crucified by the Romans, he begged the boon 
of being hung with his head downward, not deeming him- 
self worthy to die as his Lord had died. 

93. The Vineyard (p. 122). Figuratively the Earth, or 
this mortal existence. 



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